Two of the top programs in men’s college basketball square off on Tuesday. The No. 10 Duke Blue Devils take on the No. 9 Kentucky Wildcats in the nightcap of the 2021 Champions Classic as Coach K begins his final season leading Duke. These teams are attempting to overcome shaky seasons a year ago, but both are loaded with talent. Duke finished 13-11 last season, with Kentucky scuffling to a 9-16 finish, though both are ranked in the top 10 nationally to begin the 2021-22 season.
Tipoff is set for 9:30 p.m. ET in New York. The latest Kentucky vs. Duke odds at Caesars Sportsbook list the Blue Devils as three-point favorites, up two points from the opening line. The over-under for total points is set at 149. Before making any Duke vs. Kentucky picks or college basketball predictions, you need to see what SportsLine’s advanced computer model has to say.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. Over the past five years, the proprietary computer model has generated an impressive profit of $2,200 for $100 players on its top-rated college basketball picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Kentucky vs. Duke and just locked in its coveted Champions Classic 2021 picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine to see the model’s CBB picks. Now, here are several college basketball odds and betting trends for Kentucky vs. Duke:
- Kentucky vs. Duke spread: Duke -3
- Kentucky vs. Duke over-under: 149 points
- Kentucky vs. Duke money line: Duke -150, Kentucky +130
- KENT: The Wildcats were 7-16-2 against the spread in 2020-21
- DUKE: The Blue Devils were 9-15 against the spread last season
Featured Game | Duke Blue Devils vs. Kentucky Wildcats
Why Kentucky can cover
The Wildcats are coming off a disappointing campaign but, as usual, Kentucky has an exceptionally talented roster. Led by a legendary head coach in John Calipari, the Wildcats invested in the transfer market, augmenting an already talented group of recruits. Georgia transfer Sahvir Wheeler should be a strong contributor immediately, as the talented point guard led the SEC with 7.4 assists per game last season.
That assist mark ranked Wheeler in the top five nationally, and he also averaged 14.0 points per game with experience at the highest level. Wheeler is flanked in the backcourt by a five-star prospect in TyTy Washington. Washington is perhaps the most talented player on the roster, and the incoming freshman has the potential to be a game-changer. Beyond the top-end talent, Kentucky has impressive depth, and the Wildcats could use that to their advantage.
Why Duke can cover
Like Kentucky, the Blue Devils struggled last season, but there were some positive takeaways from their disappointing performance. Duke finished in the top 20 nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency, including a 54.1 percent mark on 2-point attempts. The Blue Devils used size and athleticism to take advantage of the offensive glass, grabbing 32.2 percent of their own missed shots.
Duke also created havoc on defense. The Blue Devils produced nearly 12 percent block and steal rates for the full season, and Duke’s newly-arriving talent should augment the returning production. Paulo Banchero was one of the top recruits in the country, and the 6’10 forward should be Duke’s best player immediately. The Blue Devils also have strong returnees, with a potential breakout coming from sophomore center Mark Williams. Williams scored 13 points or more in the final four games last season, capped off by a 23-point, 19-rebound eruption in Duke’s season finale.
How to make Kentucky vs. Duke picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning under on the point total, with only one player projected to score more than 14 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 60 percent of simulations. You can only see the model’s Duke vs. Kentucky picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Kentucky vs. Duke? And which side of the spread hits in well over 60 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Kentucky vs. Duke spread you need to jump on Tuesday, all from the model that has crushed its college basketball picks, and find out.