Like King Lear, top betting sites know which way madness lies. March Madness, that is. The consensus points to the Duke Blue Devils as the favorites to win 2019 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament. Duke’s odds, however, differ from one website to the next. As exemplified by two of the best online sportsbooks (as seen below). Like the Hatter and the Hare, these two gambling sites are both mad. One appears to be madder than the other, though. But let’s late a look at the Blue Devils, first and foremost.
Duke University currently rank No. 2 in both the AP and Coaches polls. The Devils are also second in the ACC standings, behind Virginia and ahead of North Carolina, with a 20-2 record (8-1 in conference play). Duke is 6-0 SU and 4-2 ATS in the last six games, according to top betting sites. The Blue Devils are the fourth-best scoring team in the nation, with 80.6 points per game. Forward RJ Barrett contributes the majority of those points (23.0). He is closely followed by fellow forward ‘Iron Lion’ Zion Williamson (22.0 points per game). Williamson also leads the team in rebounds per game, grabbing 9.4 boards per game. Defensively, Duke allows 67.7 points against conference opponents, making the sixth-best defense in the ACC.
Odds to Win the NCAAM Championship from MyBookie.ag
- Duke +250
- Tennessee +700
- Virginia +700
- Gonzaga +800
- Kentucky +1000
The Virginia Cavaliers are the nearest threat to Duke, and not just in terms of top betting sites’ oddsboards. The Cavs are No. 3 in the two aforementioned polls. However, also as mentioned above, they lead the ACC with a 20-1 record (8-1 in conference play). Virginia is 4-0 SU and 2-2 ATS in the last four games. The Cavs are, in the grand scheme of things, offensively mediocre; 72.9 ppg ranks them 185th out of about 350 teams. However, they have one of the best in-conference offensives. Not to say the best defense in both the ACC and the country. Virginia allows just 54.8 points per game to conference foes and only 52.9 ppg in general. Similarly, Virginia ranks 3rd in the ACC in defensive rebounds (259) and 6th in blocks (39). Additionally, the Cavaliers lead their conference in offensive, defensive, and total rebounds, as well as assists allowed.
Odds to Win the NCAAM Championship from GTBets.eu
- Duke +175
- Virginia +650
- Gonzaga +750
- Tennessee +900
- Kentucky +1100
When we say that Virginia is Duke’s nearest threat, we also mean that they’re next in each other’s schedule. The Blue Devils and the Cavs first met this year on January 19 at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina. Duke won 72-70 as 3.5-point home chalk. A win over the Devils would not only avenge that loss. It could also go a long way in terms of the Cavaliers’ odds. Unfortunately for Virginia, the circumstances are not as favorable as they would want them to be. On the one hand, Duke point guard Tre Jones will join the fray this time around. Jones averages 8.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game in 20 games. Tre missed the earlier Virginia game with a right AC joint injury.
And on the other hand, the Cavaliers might be without point guard Ty Jerome on February 9. Jerome posts 13.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game in 20 regular season games. He spearheads an offense that ranks No. 7 in the ACC in points per game (70.4) and first in three-point percentage (.400). Sadly, Jerome is reportedly suffering from a “sprained back.” As a result, he has missed the 56-46 win over Miami.