Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Duke Blue Devils Picks, Predictions, Odds

Dec. 22, 2021
Dave Schwab
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

In the backend of a college basketball double header on ESPN2 this Wednesday night, the Virginia Tech Hokies will be on the road against the No. 2 Duke Blue Devils in an early season matchup in the ACC. Tip-off at Cameron Indoor Stadium is slated for 9:00 p.m. ET.

Score Prediction

Duke 85, Virginia Tech 68

Best Bets

Duke -9 (-110) at DraftKings

Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Duke Blue Devils Predictions

The Hokies have twice as many straight-up wins than losses at 8-4. They opened up ACC play with a 19-point loss to Wake Forest on Dec. 4 as 8.5-point home favorites. Stepping up in class against the conference’s best team, it will take more than Virginia Tech’s A-game to keep this final score close.

Things have gone pretty much according to plan in Mike Krzyzewski’s final season as Duke’s head coach. The Blue Devils’ only SU loss this season came against Ohio State as three-point favorites. They kick off conference play at 10-1 SU in 11 non-conference matchups.

Duke playing at home in its ACC opener for Coach K’s Swan Song tour will be too much for Virginia Tech to overcome. The Hokies might be able to keep this game close into the second half, but I have the Blue Devils pulling away for the SU win while also covering against the spread.

Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Duke Blue Devils Betting Odds

  • Virginia Tech +9 (-110)
  • Duke -9 (-110)
  • Over 139 (-110)

More Odds | Futures Odds

Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Duke Blue Devils Betting Resources

  • Matchup: ACC
  • Date: Wednesday, December 22, 2021
  • Venue: Cameron Indoor Stadium
  • Location: Durham, North Carolina
  • TV-Time: ESPN2 - 9:00 p.m. ET

Virginia Tech Hokies Betting Analysis

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

  • SU: 8-4
  • ATS: 8-4
  • O/U: 4-8

I bet against Virginia Tech in its recent 86-49 rout over the Atlantic 10’s St. Bonaventure Bonnies. However, that was more about me overestimating the opposing team. The Hokies do have some talent in their roster. Yet, the lackluster effort at home against Wake Forest is cause for concern. They have closed as favorites in three of their four losses this season.

Guards’ Hunter Cattoor scored a career-high 21 points and Storm Murphy added 18 points with everything going Virginia Tech’s way in last Friday’s 37-point victory. Forward Keve Aluma is the team’s leading scorer this season with an average of 14.2 points per game.

The Hokies are averaging 71.6 points a game with Cattoor (10.3 points) shooting 44.6% from the field and 44.4% from three-point range as the hottest hand. Forward Justyn Mutts leads Virginia Tech in both rebounds (7.4) and assists (2.8).

The Hokies’ team shooting adds up to a 46.2 field goal percentage while converting on a respectable 40% of their attempts from three-point range. They are pulling down an average of 34.2 rebounds while holding opposing teams to just 56.5 PPG on defense.

Duke Blue Devils Betting Analysis

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

  • SU: 10-1
  • ATS: 6-2-3
  • O/U: 6-5

Duke remains one of the highest scoring teams in the nation with an average of 86.1 points a game. It has scored 90 or more points in four of its last eight outings. The team’s record against the spread through 11 games is 6-2-3 after covering in its last three contests. The total has gone OVER in four of the last six games.

There are any number of reasons to expect Duke to begin ACC play on a strong note. At the top of the list could be the memory of last season’s 74-67 loss to Virginia Tech on Jan. 12 as a slight two-point road favorite.

This time around, look for forwards’ Wendell Moore Jr. and Paolo Banchero to play a big role in the eventual outcome. This duo has combined for 34 points, 12.9 rebounds and 7.2 assists a game. Guards’ Trevor Keels (12.6 points) and Jeremy Roach (9.3 points) are next on the list of the team’s top scorers.

The Blue Devils are shooting 49.1% from the field and 37% from three-point range. They are averaging 38.2 rebounds a game with 10.4 on offense. Duke’s points-allowed average on defense through its first 11 games is 64.4.


Duke has covered the spread in three straight games. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Virginia Tech Hokies

  • Record: 8-4
  • VI Ranking: 64
  • PS/G: 71.6 (196th)
  • PA/G: 56.5 (9th)
  • ORtg: 109.1 (70th)
  • DRtg: 86.1 (24th)

Inside the Stats - Duke Blue Devils

  • Record: 10-1
  • VI Ranking: 3
  • PS/G: 86.1 (5th)
  • PA/G: 64.4 (95th)
  • ORtg: 119 (6th)
  • DRtg: 88.9 (54th)

Key Players to Watch

  • VT: Keve Aluma - F (14.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg)
  • VT: Nahiem Alleyne - G (10.9 ppg)
  • DUKE: Wendell Moore - F (16.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg)
  • DUKE: Paolo Banchero - F (16.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg)

Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Duke Blue Devils Betting Conclusion

Betting this game is more about Duke playing up to expectations than Virginia Tech playing way beyond its abilities. The atmosphere at Cameron Indoor Stadium will most likely exceed expectations in the ACC opener with the home team ranked No. 2 in the nation.

Last year’s fall from grace with a highly disappointing 9-9 SU record in ACC play needs to quickly be erased from these fans’ memory bank. Unfortunately for Hokies’ fans, they will suffer the first of more than a few ACC blowout losses to the Blue Devils this time around.

Interestingly enough, this series has been closer than expected over the previous 10 meetings. Duke has the slight SU edge at 6-4 with Virginia Tech covering ATS in six of those 10 games. The total has been evenly split at 5-5.

Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Duke Blue Devils Betting Trends

  • Duke has covered the spread in three straight games.
  • Duke has won 10 of its last 11 games.
  • Virginia Tech has gone UNDER the point total in eight of its last 12 games.