Duke Blue Devils vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs Picks, Predictions, Odds

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

Nov. 26, 2021

Dave Schwab
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

The featured showdown on Friday’s college basketball betting board is an East Coast/West Coast clash between the ACC’s No. 5 Duke Blue Devils and the WCC’s No. 1 Gonzaga Bulldogs. Game time from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas is set for 10:30 p.m. (ET) with ESPN covering the national broadcast.

Score Prediction

Gonzaga 87, Duke 84

Best Bets

Over 154.5 (-110)

Duke Blue Devils vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs Predictions

College basketball this time of the year does not get any better than this. Two of the top teams in nation get a chance to square off against one another in a holiday tournament setting. This matchup in the 2021 Continental Tire Challenge is sure to be the biggest betting event on just about every sportsbook’s betting board this Friday night.

Duke is living up to expectations in Mike Krzyzewski’s final season as head coach with an impressive 6-0 straight-up start. Gonzaga, at 6-0 SU, has already proven why this is the No.1- ranked team in the nation.

I am not sure which of these national powers wins this game given the neutral setting in Las Vegas. The slight lean probably goes to Gonzaga as the top-ranked team. However, I am expecting a strong performance by both the Blue Devils and Bulldogs on the offense end of the court to take this total OVER the posted line.

Duke Blue Devils vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Odds

Odds Provided by DraftKings - Subject to Change

• Duke +7 (-110)
• Gonzaga -7 (-110)
• Over 154.5 (-110)
• Under 154.5 (-110)

More Odds | Futures Odds

Duke Blue Devils vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Resources

• Matchup: ACC vs. WCC
• Date: Friday, November 26, 2021
• Venue: T-Mobile Arena
• Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
• TV-Time: ESPN - 10:30 p.m. ET

• Injury Report
• Wooden Award Odds
• Conference Futures Market
• Power Rankings

Duke Blue Devils Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 6-0
• ATS: 2-1-3
• O/U: 3-3

The highlight of Duke’s SU 6-0 run to start the season would easily be the season-opening 79- 71 victory over Kentucky as a 2.5-point favorite. Favored by at least 21 points in each of their other five games, the Blue Devils are 2-1-3 ATS as a tribute to the Oddmakers setting some ultra-sharp spreads.

The total has gone OVER in two of their last three games with a scoring average of 95.7 points. On the year, that scoring average falls to a healthy 85.8 points per game. Forwards’ Paolo Banchero and Wendell Moore Jr. along with guard Trevor Keels are accounting for 48.6 of those points.

Banchero leads the team in rebounds (8.0) and Moore is the leader in assists (5.7). Keels has connected on 11 of his team-high 34 shots from three-point range. The Blue Devils have an additional three players scoring at least eight PPG.

Overall, Duke is shooting an efficient 49.1% from the field and 33.6% from beyond the three- point line. It is averaging 40.8 rebounds a game with 11.8 on the offensive end of the court. The team’s shooting percentage from the free throw line is 78.4.

Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 6-0
• ATS: 4-2
• O/U: 2-4

Gonzaga reaffirmed its No. 1 ranking with Tuesday’s 83-63 beat down of No. 2 UCLA while closing as a seven-point favorite. That big of a win could take some of the edge off this Friday’s matchup with just three day’s rest.

The Bulldogs other impressive outing was their 86-74 victory against Texas as seven-point favorites on Nov. 13. They are a profitable 4-2 ATS covering more than a few hefty spreads. The total has stayed UNDER four of the six games. However, that speaks more to the level of competition in the other four games.

Behind a roster that is five deep with players averaging double figures, the Bulldogs are averaging 91.5 PPG. Forward Drew Timme has led the way with an 18.7-point scoring average. Center Chet Holmgren (13.2 points) is the leading rebounder with 6.7 a game. Guard Andrew Nembhard (9.8 points) leads in assist with 5.0 a game.

Gonzaga is connecting on an impressive 55.6% of its shots from the field with a 35.5% performance from three-point range. The Bulldogs are pulling down 40.7 total rebounds with an average of 10.8 on offense.

Duke has won the first half in eight straight games. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Duke Blue Devils

• Record: 6-0
• VI Ranking: 8
• PS/G: 85.8 (29th)
• PA/G: 61.8 (74th)
• ORtg: 120.3 (13th)
• DRtg: 86.7 (64th)

Inside the Stats - Gonzaga Bulldogs

• Record: 6-0
• VI Ranking: 1
• PS/G: 91.5 (3rd)
• PA/G: 60.2 (56th)
• ORtg: 125.9 (3rd)
• DRtg: 82.8 (27th)

Key Players to Watch

• DUKE: Paolo Banchero - FR (17.8 ppg, 8 rpg)
• DUKE: Wendell Moore, Jr. - JR (17.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 5.7 apg)
• ZAGA: Drew Timme - JR (18.7 ppg, 6 rpg)
• ZAGA: Chet Holmgren - FR (13.2 ppg, 6.7 rpg)

Duke Blue Devils vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Conclusion

This matchup tends to speak for itself. I do like Duke’s chances to stay in position to win right down to the final buzzer. In Coach K’s swan song tour, every big game this season gives this team some added motivation to win.

Gonzaga’s tight defensive play raises some concern for a high scoring game. However, each team will be bent on putting on a show, while showcasing their ability to put points on the board. This moves all the betting value towards the OVER on the total line.

The last time these two national powers faced one another was in November of 2018. Gonzaga went on to win that game 89-87 as an eight-point underdog. The total went OVER 168.5 points. The total has gone OVER in 13 of Duke’s last 20 games. It is 10-7-3 ATS in those contests. Results on the total line in Gonzaga’s previous 20 games are evenly split 10-10.

Duke Blue Devils vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Trends

• Duke has won the second half in two straight games when facing Gonzaga.
• Duke has won the first half in eight straight games.
• Gonzaga has won 41 of its last 42 games.

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