Duke Blue Devils vs. Houston Cougars 3/29/24 NCAAB Betting Picks

Duke Blue Devils vs. Houston Cougars 3/29/24 – In what promises to be an electrifying Sweet 16 showdown, the Duke Blue Devils face off against the Houston Cougars this Friday night. With the Blue Devils boasting a 26-8 record and the Cougars at an impressive 32-4, this clash at the American Airlines Center is poised to be a pivotal moment in the NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament. Fans and bettors alike are turning to the best sportsbook online to place their wagers on what could be the game of the season.

Team	SP/RL	TOTAL	ML
Blue Devils	+4.5 (-114)	134 over (-110)	+159
Cougars	-4.5 (-107)	134 under (-110)	-194

On to the next 🕺😈🤠 pic.twitter.com/j84xpDMLdf

— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) March 26, 2024

The current betting odds suggest a close game, with the Houston Cougars favored to win. The spread sits at -4.5 for Houston and +4.5 for Duke, indicating a tight match. The total for the game is pegged at 134, with both over and under bets sitting at -110, reflecting uncertainty in the game’s pace and scoring.

Kyle Filipowski (Center) vs. L.J. Cryer (Guard)

Kyle Filipowski has been an ever-present member of the Duke Blue Devils and has wowed the crowd with a diverse skill-set averaging 16.6 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. Being a force both on the offensive and defensive side of the game, he solidified his value and became a pivotal member of Duke’s team.

On the other hand, Houston Cougars’ L.J. Cryer is its key contributing player in the scoring with 15.5 points per game accompanied with the highest free throw accuracy of 87.1% in the league. Cryer’s ability to nail long shots from beyond the archway, with his 38.8% three-point shooting, renders him a dangerous opponent the Blue Devils need to shut down.

When two of these players face each other on the court, it turns into more than just a back-and-forth of points; it’s an exchange of forehand assaults. The intramural game could get interesting as Filipowski and his inside presence and rebounding will face Cryer and his sharp shooting ability and court spacing. These matchups are worth watching, for they might influence the game’s rhythm and decision.

Duke’s Balanced Attack

The Blue Devils’ team statistics feature the components of a balanced and strong attack with the average of 79.8 points on a shooting percentage of 48.2% from the field. Offense exploits their opponents, in addition to providing strong rebounding (36.6 RPG), and good ball circulation (15.5 APG), the team that dominates in several parts of the game is the team. Duke will do their best to decide the pace and capitalize on mismatches with such craftiness.

Houston’s Defensive Prowess

On the other hand, Houston with its steals and blocks has a strong defensive strategy that averages 9.9 steals and 4.8 blocks per game which is the reason for their success. They are able to disrupt the opponents’ offense, but at the same time, put up good numbers regarding scoring (74.1 PPG) and rebounding (37.3 RPG). Consequently, every Duke team that has to play against them has a real tough time from both points of view.

Trends

Duke Blue Devils Betting Trends

Duke are 3-2 in their last 5 games.
Blue Devils are 3-2 in their last 5 games against the spread
Duke are 5-6 in their road games against the spread
The totals have gone OVER in 1 of Duke’ last 5 games
The totals have gone OVER in 9 of Duke’ 21 last games at home

Houston Cougars Betting Trends

Houston are 4-1 in their last 5 games.
Cougars are 3-2 in their last 5 games against the spread
Houston are 3-9 in their road games against the spread
The totals have gone OVER in 1 of Houston’ last 5 games
The totals have gone OVER in 7 of Houston’ 21 last games at home