Duke at Wake Forest College Basketball Picks & Predictions 1/8/2019

Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Duke Blue Devils travel to Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum to play the Wake Forest Demon Deacons on Tuesday, January 8, 2019. The opening line for this matchup has Duke as 21.5 point favorites.

Duke comes into this game with an overall record of 12-1. They currently have a point differential of 27.2 as they are averaging 91.2 points per game while giving up 64.1 per contest. Wake Forest has an overall record of 7-6. They are averaging 74.8 points per game and surrendering 73.7, good for a point differential of 1.1.

Valuable Duke Blue Devils Betting Trends

The Duke Blue Devils are 9-4-0 against the spread

The Duke Blue Devils are 3-10-0 against the over/under

Important Wake Forest Demon Deacons Betting Trends

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons are 6-7-0 against the spread

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons are 7-6-0 against the over/under

Key Duke Blue Devils Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Wake Forest Demon Deacons Injuries

12/14/18 G Jamie Lewis Disciplinary is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

R.J. Barrett comes into this contest averaging 22.9 points per game while playing 31.2 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 6.9 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.8 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 48% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 66%. Zion Williamson averages 20.2 points per game in 25.8 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.2 assists per contest and 9.5 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 66% for the year while his free throw percentage is 70%.

Player Spotlight

Brandon Childress averages 17.3 points per game while playing 36.8 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 3.4 rebounds per game and has 4.2 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is at 78%. Jaylen Hoard averages 15.5 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 29.3 minutes per contest. He also averages 7.7 rebounds per contest and 1.4 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 72%.

Useful Team Statistics

Duke averages 91.2 points per contest this season, which ranks them 3rd in the NCAA. Their average scoring margin is 27.2 and their shooting percentage is 49% as a team, which has them ranked 20th. Behind the arc they shoot 32% which is good for 256th in the nation. They average 44.9 rebounds per game and 18.1 assists per game, which ranks them 3rd and 10th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 235th with 12.8 per game. The Blue Devils allow 64.1 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 34th in the country. They also allow a 37% shooting percentage and a 29% average from behind the arc, ranking them 5th and 24th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 35.2 rebounds a game which ranks 190th and they give up 13.3 assists per contest, which puts them in 200th place in Division 1. They force 17.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 335th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Wake Forest is 163rd in the country with 74.8 points per game this year. They are 227th in Division 1 in shooting at 44%, while their average scoring margin is 1.1. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 141st in the nation. They are 116th in the NCAA in rebounding with 37.5 boards per game, and 317th in assists per contest with 11.3. The Demon Deacons are 219th in turnovers per game with 12.9. The Demon Deacons surrender 73.7 points per contest, which ranks them 234th in D-1. Their defense allows a 45% shooting percentage and a 32% average from 3-point range, ranking them 262nd and 88th in those defensive statistics. They rank 288th with 14.8 assists allowed per contest and 40th with 31.5 rebounds surrendered per game. The Demon Deacons are 25th in country in forcing turnovers with 11.1 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Blue Devils are 6th in the nation in offensive rating with 118.7. In terms of pace they are 13th in the country with 76.8 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 55% is 51st. As a team they are 59th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 233rd in Division 1. Duke is 322nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.9 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Wake Forest is 212th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.9 times per 100 possessions. The Demon Deacons have an offensive rating of 106.3, which is ranked 138th. They are 224th in D-1 in pace with 69.6 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 50% is 240th. As a unit they are 183rd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shot attempts, ranking 283rd in the country.

Who will win tonight's Duke/Wake Forest college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Wake Forest +21.5

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