Duke Aims for ACC Sweep Against Resurgent Virginia

Duke's basketball team faces Virginia after a dominant win over Stanford, with odds favoring the Blue Devils in a high-stakes ACC matchup.

Key Takeaways:

• Duke aims for a three-game sweep in six days
• Virginia shows improvement under interim coach Ron Sanchez
• Oddsmakers predict a competitive game despite Duke's favored status

Duke's men's basketball team is riding high after a crushing 36-point victory against Stanford, but there's no time to rest on their laurels. The Blue Devils are set to clash with the Virginia Cavaliers on Monday night, completing a grueling stretch of three games in just six days.

Duke has been nearly unstoppable in conference play, boasting an impressive 14-1 record. Their sole blemish came in a narrow road loss to Clemson, partly due to a late-game mishap by freshman standout Cooper Flagg. However, Virginia isn't the same team they were earlier in the season. Under the guidance of interim head coach Ron Sanchez, the Cavaliers have found their footing, winning five of their last seven contests to climb above .500.

Despite the absence of legendary coach Tony Bennett on Virginia's sideline, bookmakers anticipate a competitive matchup. The pregame odds, as reported by BetMGM, have Duke as a 14.5-point favorite, with a money line of -1200 for Duke and +725 for Virginia. The over-under is set at 130.5 points.

While Virginia has shown improvement, their recent victories haven't come against top-tier competition. Their only win against a KenPom top 100 team during this stretch was against Pittsburgh, who themselves have struggled lately. Duke's superior defense and rebounding prowess are expected to be decisive factors in this contest.

Predictions suggest Duke will cover the spread, with a final score of 83-64 in favor of the Blue Devils. The total points are expected to exceed the over-under, indicating a potentially high-scoring affair.

For those looking to catch the action, game time and channel information are available. As always, bettors are encouraged to conduct thorough research before placing any wagers.