When it started in November, teams dreamed of having a season that would take them to the Final Four in San Antonio. Now that we have arrived, there are only three games left until a team is crowned national champion.
One of these games is that Houston Cougars take the Duke Blue Devils in a clash between two most important programs in university basketball. Tipoff is scheduled for 20:49 ET and the game will be published in CBS. The Victor will advance to face the winner of Auburn-Florida on Monday at the National Championship.
The probabilities manufacturers favor Duke, as the blue devils are the favorites of 5 to 5.5 points. Envelope/bass is 136.5 to 137 points, depending on which of Massachusetts’ best sports books You choose. Here are our predictions of Houston vs. Duke and the best bets.
Houston vs. Duke predictions and the best bets
- Duke -4.5: -120 in Draftkings
- Duke More than 69.5 Total Points -155 in Betmgm
- Khaman Maluach More than 16.5 points + rebounds: -115 in Fanduel
The Blue Devils have the upper hand of the talent, but when adding the advantage of size, Duke should be able to control this game. Cooper Flagg and Khaman Maluach should be too inside and coach John Scheyer advances to his first national championship.
Duke has been dominant by offense and this trend should continue until Saturday night’s confrontation. The team has passed this total in its last 19 games and 11 of 13 this season against adversaries Quad 1.
Khaman Maluach has won this total in five of the last seven games and should be even more an asset against a Houston team. With all the attention of the Cougars to Flagg, wait for Maluach to have a great game.
Houston vs. Duke Moneyline Analysis
Why Duke could win as a favorite
Best probabilities: -260 in Fanatics
If there were any questions about the blue devils who went to elite eight, they answered them. Duke wiped the flat with a very talented Tide Tide Tide team in an 85-65 victory, giving a huge blow to the likelihood of winning the national championship.
This success is not new for a Duke team that went through 12-3 against adversaries Quad 1 this year and is currently on the way to set the record during the qualification of offensive efficiency, through Kenpom.
Freshman Sensation Cooper Flagg is the leader of this list. The Naismith Prize Promotion Award 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. However, there is too much emphasis on him from the opposition, and other guards such as Tyrese Proctor and Kon Knueppel will find ways to produce.
Houston has been very impressive this season, but the lack of size on its list could be detrimental. Flagg and Maluach are older than any other player on the Couugar list and could fight to win the game on the boards. This could put this game in favor of Duke.
Why could Houston win as a minor?
Best probabilities: +235 in Caesars
Houston had some calls close to San Antonio, but he sealed his regional game with a 19 -point victory over Tennessee volunteers number 2 to show that they have won their place at the table.
Houston is an unpleasant ball club that has found ways to win with its defensive intensity. It is first classified in Kenpom’s defensive efficiency rankings. However, the counters are not Slouches when scoring the ball, as they are tenth in offensive efficiency.
The team’s highest scorer is the LJ Cryer Point Guard, which published a performance of 17 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists in Elite Eight. Three other players on the list also means of two two -digit points, including Emmanuel Sharp, who marked 16 against Tennessee.
Coach Kelvin Sampson has been on the shore to break this Houston program on the barrier and containment, with a possibility for him and his team to demolish the largest Goliath of University Basketball. Don’t be surprised if the Cougars refuse to get off easily.