Hurricanes Host Blue Devils in ACC Showdown

NCAA basketball continues with its conference schedule and Monday night features two ranked teams facing off when the No. 12 ranked Duke Blue Devils visit the No. 14 Miami Hurricanes in an ACC matchup.

Line: Miami -2.5, Over/Under: Off

Duke has an overall record of 15-5 straight up and 9-9 against the spread. On the road, the Blue Devils are 3-1 SU and ATS.

Miami on the season is 15-3 SU and 10-6 ATS. At home, the Hurricanes are 9-1 SU and 6-2 ATS.

Both teams arrive off wins for this matchup thanks to strong play in the second half of both games, Duke will look for revenge over Miami after it was blown out last season at home by the Hurricanes 90-74.

Riding a rare losing streak of three games and trailing by 7 points at half versus North Carolina State, Duke shot 71%, while scoring 52 points to beat the Wolfpack 88-78.

Miami led by 2 points at the half of its game with Wake Forest and pulled away with a run of 17-3 to win 74-61 on good free throw shooting and tough defense.

Duke has won just 7 of its 11 games since Amile Jefferson was hurt with a foot injury and offensive rebounding is one of the reasons. The Blue Devils allowed 52 defensive rebounds during its losing skid but have been helped of late by Marshall Plumlee.

Grayson Allen is second in scoring in the ACC for Duke at 20.5 points per game. In all Duke has four players averaging double figures in scoring, but the bench is Duke’s weakest link.

Miami is led in scoring by Sheldon McClellan who is averaging 16 points a game and Ja’Quan Newton who averages just less than 12 points per game.

Miami has had its share of shooting woes of late missing 11 layups as well as two dunks on shooting just 36% from the field.

Miami’s defense however has helped to compensate for its inconsistent offense by allowing 66 or fewer points in 10 of the past 11 Hurricane games.

Since 2011, Miami and Notre Dame are the only teams in the ACC with three or more wins against Duke.

Jefferson is no longer using a walking boot to protect his foot, but will need a few more weeks before playing.

Prediction: Duke has not fared well of late losing 3 of 4. Miami’s offense sputters at times, but its defense keeps games close against tough opponents. I like Miami to cover.