College Basketball Preview: Duke Blue Devils vs. George Mason Patriots – Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024
The George Mason Patriots (7-3) look to upset the fifth-ranked Duke Blue Devils (8-2) on Tuesday, December 17 at 7:00 PM ET at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina. The Blue Devils are heavy favorites with a point spread at -19.5 (-115).
George Mason Patriots Betting Preview
The Patriots have won their last five games and need that positive energy against the Blue Devils. Their latest win was a 76-64 outing over the Tulane Green Wave.
They were great on both sides of the ball, posting a strong start with a 45-27 first half. They came up short in the second half but their momentum was enough to carry out the win. Braydon O’Connor led with 17 points on 70.0 percent shooting and had four assists.
Their offense put up 43.6 percent shooting from the field and 40.0 percent from three. On defense they held the Green Wave to 41.1 percent shooting and 37.0 percent from deep. They did a good job in the rebounding battle to make a positive impact, as they grabbed 37 rebounds and allowed 28 to the Green Wave.
The Patriots are averaging 78.7 points and shooting 48.4 percent from the field per game. Their defense is holding teams to 63.1 points a game, which offers a favorable spread.
Duke Blue Devils Betting Preview
The Blue Devils have won their last four games since losing to the previously top-ranked Kansas Jayhawks by three points. In their recent success, they defeated the Incarnate Word Cardinals 72-46.
They had a sluggish start in the first half, as they were up just 28-21. However, a strong second half start blew the door wide open and they never looked back. Khaman Maluach led with 17 points and made six of his seven shots from the field.
The Blue Devils made 43.6 percent of their field goals and 32.0 percent of their three pointers. They held the Cardinals to 32.1 percent shooting from the field and 21.7 from deep to put this game out of reach. They also towered over them in rebounding with 44 boards compared to the Cardinals’ 26.
Per game the Blue Devils have averaged 79.7 points a game and are connecting on 46.3 percent shooting efficiency. Their defense has done well at holding teams to 59.9 points per matchup, creating a comfortable spread.
Odds, Series Trends, and Free Pick
The George Mason Patriots vs. Duke Blue Devils betting odds have been provided by MyBookie, currently displaying the Blue Devils as 19.5-favorites. Looking at market insights, it shows the Blue Devils having a 93.7 percent chance of winning.
The Blue Devils have looked great lately and need another win by a large margin to keep their confidence up. Look for the Blue Devils to cover the spread.
Final Pick: Duke Blue Devils -19.5 (-115)
