Duke vs Virginia Tech 2019 College Basketball Odds & Game Preview

Duke vs Virginia Tech 2019 College Basketball Odds & Game Preview

Written by on December 6, 2019

The 10th ranked Duke Blue Devils will look to avoid the upset when they hit the road to take on a Virginia Tech Hokies team that will be going all-out to snap out of the recent funk they’ve been in when the two longtime ACC rivals square off on Friday night. With the Hokies looking to pull off the big upset and the Blue Devils looking to find some consistency of their own, let’s find out which team is offering the best value against their NCAAB odds in this matchup.

Duke vs Virginia Tech 2019 College Basketball Odds & Game Preview

 

Why Bet On Duke?

Duke might be on the road and giving up seven points, but there are a bunch of great reasons to back the Blue Devils in this contest. Duke is looking to build some momentum and they enter this matchup having won two straight including an impressive 87-75 win over preseason No. 1 Michigan State on Tuesday.

Then, there’s the fact that the Blue Devils average 84.1 points per game to Virginia Tech’s 76.3 points per contest while limiting the opposition to 65.9 points per game defensively to to Hokies’ 65.1 points per game allowed. Last but not least, Duke has won both of their road games this season while Virginia Tech has gone 4-1 at home.

Team Statistics

Offense:
  • Average Score For: 84.11
  • Field Goals: 46.71%
  • Three Points: 36.21%
  • Free Throws: 67.54%
  • Rebounds: 42.22
Defense:
  • Average Score Against: 65.89
  • Field Goals: 42.67
  • Three Points: 30.00
  • Free Throws: 63.10
  • Rebounds: 32.00

Why Bet On Virginia Tech?

The Hokies might have suffered two straight losses, but there are still some good reasons to believe the Hokies can cover the chalk in this matchup. Virginia Tech will definitely be highly motivated to get back in the win column after getting blown out by Dayton 89-62 and following that up with a 90-77 smackdown loss against BYU.

Then, there’s the fact that Virginia Tech will be well-rested and focused seeing as how they haven’t been on court on Nov. 27. The Hokies also have the slight edge defensively in this matchup, not to mention Virginia Tech has won two of the last three meetings against the Blue Devils while covering the chalk in three straight.

Team Statistics

Offense:
  • Average Score For: 76.25
  • Field Goals: 47.84
  • Three Points: 43.11
  • Free Throws: 66.35
  • Rebounds: 34.63
Defense:
  • Average Score Against: 65.13
  • Field Goals: 40.76
  • Three Points: 30.49
  • Free Throws: 68.42
  • Rebounds: 34.75

College Basketball Week 5 Betting Trends for Duke vs Virginia Tech

 
  • Duke is 6-12 ATS in the last 18 games
  • Duke is 8-1 SU in the last 9 games
  • The total went OVER in 5 of Duke’s last 5 games
  • Virginia Tech is 6-3 ATS in the last 9 games
  • Virginia Tech is 6-2 SU in the last 8 games
  • The total went OVER in 4 of Virginia Tech’s last 6 games
 

Duke vs Virginia Tech Expert Analysis and Prediction

After watching the way Virginia tech has under-performed in their last two games, I’m shocked that Duke isn’t a double-digit road favorite in this matchup. With that said, I don’t see any way the Hokies get their act together against a Blue Devils team that is looking to win its third straight game after getting upset by Stephen F. Austin on Nov. 26.

While the underdog in this ACC rivalry has gone 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings and the home team has gone 6-1 ATS in the last 7 meetings, Virginia Tech is just 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog of 6.5 points or less. Sure, Duke is an awful 1-8 ATS in their last 9 Friday games and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite, but I’m thinking this is a ‘trap’ game the Blue devils will win and cover the chalk in. I like Duke to get it done by the narrowest of margins.

Pick: Duke 78 Virginia Tech 67