Pittsburgh vs Duke predictions 1/28/20 College Basketball Picks & Tips

Game: Pittsburgh Panthers vs Duke Blue Devils

Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Location: Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, NC

TV: ESPN, ESPNU

Odds/Point Spread: Duke -16.5

Total/Over-Under: 137.5

The Pittsburgh Panthers travel to Cameron Indoor Stadium to play the Duke Blue Devils on Tuesday, January 28, 2020. The opening line for this matchup has Duke as 16.5 point favorites.

Pittsburgh comes into this game with an overall record of 13-7. They currently have a point differential of 4.3 as they are averaging 66.4 points per game while giving up 62.1 per contest. Duke has an overall record of 16-3. They are averaging 82.9 points per game and surrendering 63.9, good for a point differential of 19.0.

Valuable Pittsburgh Panthers Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Panthers are 10-10-0 against the spread

The Pittsburgh Panthers are 8-11-1 against the over/under

Important Duke Blue Devils Betting Trends

The Duke Blue Devils are 11-8-0 against the spread

The Duke Blue Devils are 13-6-0 against the over/under

Key Pittsburgh Panthers Injuries

11/05/19 F Kene Chukwuka Hip is out indefinitely
01/09/20 G Ithiel Horton Undisclosed is out for season

Key Duke Blue Devils Injuries

01/06/20 F Wendell Moore Jr. Hand is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Xavier Johnson averages 11.9 points per game in 33.5 minutes per contest. He averages 5.3 assists per contest and 3.9 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 39% for the year while his free throw percentage is 74%. Trey McGowens comes into this contest averaging 13.1 points per game while playing 32.8 minutes per night. He pulls down 3.7 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 59% while his free throw percentage is at 73%.

Player Spotlight

Tre Jones averages 14.9 points per game and he sees the court an average of 33.4 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.1 rebounds per contest and 6.8 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is 70%. Vernon Carey Jr. averages 16.9 points per game while playing 24.0 minutes per contest. He grabs 8.3 rebounds per game and has 1.1 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 59% and his free throw percentage is at 60%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Panthers allow 62.1 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 30th in Division 1. They also allow a 41% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the arc, ranking them 89th and 175th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 36.2 rebounds a game which ranks 234th, and they give up 12.7 assists per contest which puts them in 192nd place in the NCAA. They force 16.0 turnovers per game which ranks them 307th in the nation. Pittsburgh averages 66.4 points per contest this season, which ranks them 299th in the country. Their average scoring margin is 4.3 and their shooting percentage is 42% as a team, which has them ranked 280th. Behind the arc they shoot 30% which is good for 313th in D-1. They average 35.2 rebounds per game and 12.5 assists per contest, which ranks them 206th and 243rd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 262nd with 12.4 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Blue Devils surrender 63.9 points per contest, which ranks them 51st in the NCAA. Their defense allows a 41% shooting percentage and a 31% average from 3-point range, ranking them 115th and 82nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 124th with 11.8 assists allowed per contest, and 59th with 32.5 rebounds surrendered per game. The Blue Devils are 328th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 16.8 per game. Duke is 4th in the country with 82.9 points per game this year. They are 12th in the D-1 in shooting at 49%, while their average scoring margin is 19.0. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 43rd in the nation. They are 29th in the country in rebounding with 39.9 boards per game and 18th in assists per contest with 16.4. The Blue Devils are 162nd in turnovers per game with 13.5.

Advanced Statistics

The Panthers have an offensive rating of 100.6, which is ranked 195th. They are 331st in college basketball in pace with 65.6 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 47% is 312th. As a unit they are 284th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 51% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shot attempts, ranking 281st in D-1. Pittsburgh is 230th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.9 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Duke is 259th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.5 times per 100 possessions. The Blue Devils have an offensive rating of 112.8, which is ranked 5th. They are 47th in D-1 in pace with 73 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 26th. As a unit they are 45th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shot attempts, ranking 292nd in the country.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Duke -16.5

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