The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (16-5, 11-4 ATS) stung Duke earlier this season 71-67 as 7.5-point home underdogs and will travel to Durham on Thursday night for the rematch. Sportsbook.com has the line for this game set at Duke -12.5, and surprisingly, o
2010-02-09
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (16-5, 11-4 ATS) stung Duke earlier this season 71-67 as 7.5-point home underdogs and will travel to Durham on Thursday night for the rematch. Sportsbook.com has the line for this game set at Duke -12.5, and surprisingly, over 80% of the early betting action has come in on the visitors.
With young teams come youthful mistakes and coach Paul Hewitt can teach his players and only hope they learn from him. Georgia Tech is 3-2 (4-1 ATS) in games decided by four or less points and though that sounds acceptable, both losses were winnable and two of the victories were only that close after blowing 10 or more point leads. That’s what happens you have a freshman point guard like Mfon Udofia, whose decision-making at this level of play needs experience.
Duke (17-4, 13-7 ATS) will be revenge-minded at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Coach Mike Krzyzewski has been shortening his bench in recent outings, playing primarily eight players, however that places a heavy burden on guard Jon Scheyer. The Blue Devils point guard has to handle the ball, score, and play 35+ minutes. That might be fine for now, however in a month; Scheyer might be dragging, which creates the urgency for Andre Dawkins to become a reliable third guard. This Duke squad has height and more physical players, accounting in part why they are 14-4 ATS at home vs. good rebounding teams that are +4 or better in rebound margin.
Sportsbook.com opened with Duke as 13.5-point favorites with total of 144.5, as they look avoid being swept for the first time by Georgia Tech in 14 years. The Blue Devils are off what was a blowout loss at Georgetown 89-77, scoring seven points in the final minute to make the score appear respectable. Duke is 14-4 ATS in a home game where the total is 140 to 149.5 over the last three seasons and is 13-4 OVER at Cameron Indoor after a road game where both teams scored 75 points or more.
Georgia Tech is 5-29 all-time in Durham, however 8-2 ATS versus good teams outscoring their opponents by four or more points a game (8-1 UNDER in those games) this season. The Yellow Jackets have lost nine of the last 10 to the Dukies and are 3-7 ATS. The ACC action begins at 7 Eastern on ESPN2.
The StatFox Power Line shows Duke by 10, indicating a slight over-pricing by oddsmakers.
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