College Basketball Preview: Arizona Wildcats vs. Duke Blue Devils

The 12th-ranked Duke Blue Devils (3-1) head to McKale Memorial Center in Tucson, Arizona, to take on the 17th-ranked Arizona Wildcats (2-1) on Friday, November 22 at 10:30 PM ET. The Wildcats are slight favorites in their home arena with a point spread at -1.5 (-105).

Duke Blue Devils Betting Preview

The Blue Devils were able to bounce back quickly after their first loss, with an overwhelming 86-35 triumph over the Wofford Terriers. This marked the fewest points allowed by Duke since back to 1960.

With a 51-14 lead to end the first half, they were clearly ready to make a difference from their recent loss. Tyrese Proctor led with 15 points and four players finished in double digits total.

They connected on 48.4 percent of their field goals while holding the Terriers to 24.6 percent shooting. Duke also had just 10 turnovers but was able to force Wofford into 19 total.

The Blue Devils have been putting together 88.5 points per game while their defense has been holding teams to 58.0 points each matchup. They have also been making a good chunk of their shots, as they are averaging 47.9 percent of their field goals.

Arizona Wildcats Betting Preview

The Wildcats are coming off of a massive 103-88 blowout defeat to the (previously unranked) Wisconsin Badgers. A bad shooting night and poor defense usually do not mix, which is one key factor in their loss.

Jaden Bradley put up 22 points and made half of his 14 shot attempts. After that, the roster was filled with a lot of fouls and ultimately gave the Badgers plenty of opportunities from the charity stripe to stay ahead.

This was a poor shooting performance, as they landed 37.8 percent of their field goals. In addition, they allowed the Badgers to make 48.1 percent of their shots, with 44.4 percent from beyond the arc.

The Wildcats are averaging 94.3 points a game and shooting 45.6 percent from the field. On defense, they are allowing opponents to reach 70.3 points per game.

Odds, Series Trends, and Free Pick

The college basketball betting odds for the Duke Blue Devils vs. Arizona Wildcats showdown is brought to you by MyBookie. They are showing the Wildcats as 1.5-point favorites, which is appealing to see. Market analysis indicates the Blue Devils have a better shot at winning with a 55.6 percent probability.

When Duke lost against the (previously 19th-ranked) Kentucky Wildcats, it was a five point game and the Wildcats hit some tough shots late to pull ahead. As for Arizona losing to the Badgers, there were too many mistakes defensively that led to fouls and poor shooting led to their demise. Look for the Blue Devils to cover.

Final Pick: Duke Blue Devils +1.5 (-115)