Predictions, Betting Lines, and Picks for Wake Forest vs Duke Basketball Game on Monday, March 3rd

• The #2 Duke Blue Devils are 19.5-point home favorites over Wake Forest on Monday night
• Duke earned a 63-56 victory in their first meeting back in January
• See the Wake Forest vs Duke odds, lines and predictions for tonight’s matchup

The #2 Duke Blue Devils’ (26-3, 17-1 ACC) pursuit of the ACC regular-season title continues on Monday, as they host the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (20-9, 12-6 ACC). Both these teams are exceptionally strong defensively, and online sportsbooks are expecting a low scoring game in the latest college basketball odds.

Tip-off for this matchup is set for 7pm ET at the Cameron Indoor Stadium, in Durham, NC, with ESPN providing the broadcast coverage.

Wake Forest vs Duke Prediction

Much like the books, I see little chance of this game turning into a shootout. The Blue Devils enter play as a top-two contender in the March Madness odds, and rank fourth nationally in defensive rating. They’ve held 11 of their last 13 opponents below 68 points, including the Demon Deacons when they met back in January.

Wake Forest gave Cooper Flagg and Duke a scare, but ultimately the Blue Devils prevailed 63-56. The Demon Deacons held Duke to a 36.8% field goal percentage though, one of their lowest marks of the season.

Speaking of Flagg, the phenom and Wooden Award odds favorite, had to leave the Blue Devils’ blowout victory over Florida State on Saturday due to an eye injury. Fortunately for Flagg, it ended up being just a bruised eyelid. Flagg, ultimately returned to the game, finishing with 16 points, and was praised for his toughness by teammates afterwards.

Duke cannot afford any more injuries, as the team is already without Tyrese Proctor. The Blue Devils starting point guard is out indefinitely with a knee injury, but is expected to return soon.

Back to the Wake Forest defense, that ranks 45th in defensive rating. They’re 32nd at defending the perimeter, allowing a three-point success rate of only 30.8%. That spells trouble for Duke, who despite ranking second in offensive rating, settle far too often for jump shots. They don’t attack the rim, and as a result don’t earn trips to the free throw line. The Blue Devils are 180th in the country in free throw attempts.

That style of play relies a ton on efficiency, and while Duke is capable of being ultra efficient, it can go sideways. If the shots aren’t falling, it can totally disrupt the offensive flow, leading to turnovers. That’s what happened in their first matchup, as the Blue Devils had 16 turnovers, seven more than their season average.

As for the Demon Deacons offense, don’t expect a ceiling performance versus Duke. Wake Forest is 137th nationally in offensive rating, and runs the bulk of their offense inside the arc. The Blue Devils are on the top teams defending that area, ranking third in opponent two-point field goal percentage.

Wake Forest vs Duke Pick

• Under 143.5 (-110) at DraftKings

Duke is holding enemy shooters to the second lowest effective field goal percentage, and are seventh in defensive rebounding. The Demon Deacons have struggled to score against Quad 1 opposition, especially those ranked in the top-30. They’ve faced six such opponents, averaging a measly 58 points per contest. I’m predicting more offensive struggles tonight, making the under my best bet.

Wake Forest vs Duke Lines

The total in the Wake Forest vs Duke odds is currently listed at 143.5. The Blue Devils are favored by 19.5-points, and are a -4500 moneyline favorite. Duke has seen five straight games soar over the total, while the Demon Deacons have been a favorite among under bettors.

Odds as of March 2 at DraftKings. See the full list of DraftKings deposit methods.

Per the college basketball public betting trends, the under is 7-5 in their last 12 games. That side of the total is 17-12 in Wake Forest contests this season, hitting at an 80% rate versus ranked opponents.

The highly anticipated matchup between the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and the Duke Blue Devils is set to take place on Monday, March 3rd. Both teams are coming off strong performances in their previous games and are looking to secure a crucial win in this ACC showdown.

The Duke Blue Devils, currently ranked 7th in the nation, have been on a tear as of late, winning their last five games. Led by star freshman forward Paolo Banchero and sophomore guard Jeremy Roach, Duke has been dominant on both ends of the floor. Their high-powered offense, which averages 78.6 points per game, will be a tough challenge for the Wake Forest defense.

On the other hand, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons have had a solid season so far, with a record of 19-8. They are led by standout guard Alondes Williams, who is averaging 17.4 points per game. Wake Forest has shown resilience throughout the season and will look to pull off an upset against the Blue Devils.

In terms of betting lines, Duke is currently favored to win by 6.5 points. The over/under for total points scored in the game is set at 152.5. This suggests that oddsmakers are expecting a high-scoring affair between these two teams.

As for predictions, it is likely that Duke will come out on top in this matchup. Their depth and talent on both ends of the floor give them a significant advantage over Wake Forest. However, the Demon Deacons have shown that they are capable of pulling off upsets and should not be counted out.

In conclusion, the Wake Forest vs Duke basketball game on Monday, March 3rd promises to be an exciting and competitive matchup. With both teams vying for a crucial win in the ACC standings, fans can expect a high-energy game with plenty of scoring. Duke is favored to win, but Wake Forest has the potential to make it a close contest. It will be interesting to see how this game unfolds and which team comes out on top.