- Duke will take on Houston in the Sweet 16 of the March Madness tournament
- The Blue Devils steamrolled James Madison in the second round, while Houston took care of business against Texas A&M
- See the odds for Duke vs Houston below
Duke absolutely crushed #12 James Madison 93-55 in the second round of the March Madness tournament. The Blue Devils started the game hot from behind the three-point line and never cooled off. They carried a 22-point lead into halftime and only built upon it in the second half.
Houston’s Round of 32 matchup with Texas A&M was much closer, as the largest lead by either side was just 13 points and the South Region’s top seed was given a late-game scare. The team given the second-best odds to win the NCAA Tournament watched their opponent hit a three at the buzzer to force overtime, and had to play without two of their stars for most of the extra period. The #1 Houston Cougars did hang on to beat the Aggies 100-95, though, advancing to the Sweet 16 to take on Duke.
The game is scheduled for Friday, March 29 at 9:39pm ET. (However, tip-off might come a little later since the official timing is “after the conclusion of NC State vs Marquette.”) The opening odds for Duke vs Houston in the Sweet 16 favor Houston.
Duke vs Houston Odds
| Team | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke | +4 (-110) | O 133 (-110) | +160 |
| Houston | -4 (-110) | U 133 (-110) | -192 |
Houston opened as 4-point favorites over Duke in their Sweet 16 matchup.
Houston’s moneyline odds are set at -192 and Duke’s at +160. Based off those odds, Houston has a 65.8% chance to win the game. If you bet $20 on Houston to win, you would stand to profit $10.42 and return $30.42. That same $20 bet on Duke would win $32 and return $52.
The over/under for total points in Duke vs Houston has opened at 133, which is by far the lowest of the Sweet 16.
The opening odds above are from DraftKings on Sunday, March 24. To see the the latest lines, see our college basketball odds.
Duke Makes Quick Work of James Madison in Round of 32
After convincingly beating #5 Wisconsin in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, James Madison had become a bit of a tournament sweetheart. The vast majority of the ATS money bet on the JMU vs Duke game was indeed on the Dukes. But their backers were silenced pretty quickly, as Duke took a 10-point lead just five minutes into the game, and the Blue Devils never let up.
It didn’t help that Terrence Edwards Jr, the Dukes’ best player and the Sun Belt Player of the Year, found himself in foul trouble early in the game, forcing him to the bench.
Jared Mccain is the best Duke shooter since ____?pic.twitter.com/rfXQz1ebzn
— Blue Devils (@BlueDevils) March 24, 2024
The Blue Devils opened the game shooting the ball well, but it was their effort on the offensive glass that led to some open shots to get the team going. Duke finished the game shooting 52.4% from the field but were a scorching 50% from downtown, making 14 of their 28 attempts. Jared McCain was incredible, going 8-11 from three while pouring in 30 points.
Duke’s offense was impressive all night, specifically with their ball movement. They recorded 22 assists to James Madison’s seven. Not only were they creating open shots by sharing the ball, but also continued to find the hot hands.
If Duke shoots the ball this well, they’re going to be tough for anyone. However, thanks an extremely tough matchup ahead in the Sweet 16, Duke now has the third-best odds to make the Final Four.
Houston Outlasts Texas A&M in Second Round
Though it was far from Houston’s best performance of the year, the Cougars always felt in control of their second round matchup with Texas A&M.
Houston gave up ten offensive rebounds in the first half and committed 14 personal fouls before the break. All the fouls led to Texas A&M shooting 22 free throws in the first half alone, but were only able to hit 11 of them. LJ Cryer, who shot 39.1% from behind the three-point line this season, and Jamal Shead, who was a 32.1% three-point shooter entering this one, combined to go 0-8 from downtown in the first half. In spite of all that, Houston still led by five entering the second half.
The first 15 minutes of the second half was much better than the first for Kelvin Sampson’s squad. However, they would finish the game allowing 22 offensive rebounds, allowing A&M to add another 12 in the second half, and still committed 14 more fouls after the break. The offense remained a little off and they committed a few bad, uncharacteristic turnovers, but the defense flexed their muscle for about 15 of the 20 minutes.
WE ARE HEADING TO OVERTIME IN TEXAS A&M-HOUSTON pic.twitter.com/rBEglzmBn2
— SportsBettingDime (@SBD) March 25, 2024
The most concerning part for Houston has to be the way they crumbled in the last couple minutes of the game, as Texas A&M ramped up the pressure. Houston’s offense failed to put the game away as they committed some bad turnovers and missed some open shots. Their defense all of a sudden reverted back to the one we saw in the first half, giving up offensive rebounds and committing bad fouls. The Cougars allowed the Aggies three chances to tie the game in the final seconds, with A&M hitting the final three-point attempt at the buzzer to force overtime.
Even without LJ Cryer, who fouled out with a few minutes left in the second half, for the entire overtime period and losing Emanuel Sharp (their leading scorer) very early in overtime, as well as the momentum working against them after allowing A&M to tie it at the buzzer, Houston would still hold on and escape the first weekend, beating A&M 100-95.
In a highly anticipated Sweet 16 matchup, the Houston Cougars are currently favored over the Duke Blue Devils according to the latest betting odds. The Cougars, who are coming off a dominant performance in the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament, are seen as the team to beat in this showdown.
The Cougars, led by head coach Kelvin Sampson, have been on a tear this season with an impressive record of 32-3. Their suffocating defense and efficient offense have been key factors in their success, and they will look to continue their winning ways against a tough Duke team.
On the other hand, the Blue Devils have had a solid season themselves, finishing with a record of 27-6. Led by head coach Mike Krzyzewski, Duke boasts a talented roster with players like Paolo Banchero and Wendell Moore Jr. who have been instrumental in their success.
Despite Duke’s strong lineup, the Cougars are favored by many experts and analysts due to their consistency and strong play throughout the season. The betting odds reflect this sentiment, with Houston currently listed as the favorite to win the matchup.
As with any sports betting situation, it’s important to remember that anything can happen on game day. Both teams are capable of pulling off a win, and fans can expect an exciting and competitive game when these two powerhouses face off in the Sweet 16.
Ultimately, it will come down to which team can execute their game plan and make the necessary adjustments throughout the game. Whether you’re rooting for the Cougars or the Blue Devils, this matchup is sure to be one for the books and will have fans on the edge of their seats until the final buzzer sounds.
