Duke Blue Devils vs. Ohio State Buckeyes Prediction & Game Preview - 11/30/2021

Time: 9:30 p.m. ET

Venue: Value City Arena, Columbus, OH

Where to watch: ESPN

DraftKings: Duke -2

BetMGM: Duke -2.5

Caesars: Duke -2

No. 1 Duke: 7-0

Ohio State: 4-2

Duke: won 84-81 vs. Gonzaga on Friday

Ohio State: lost 71-68 vs. Florida on Wednesday

Now as the top team in the nation, the Duke Blue Devils will look to move to 8-0 when they face the Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus on Tuesday night.

This matchup, part of the ACC/Big Ten challenge, is going to be a fun late-November matchup that shows two stars battling each other in the frontcourt.

Duke big man Paolo Banchero is coming off a 21-point effort in Friday’s 3-point victory over the Gonzaga Bulldogs in Las Vegas. Banchero outdueled Gonzaga big man Chet Holmgren (16 points, 7 rebounds) and Mark Williams helped out the cause a great deal with 17 points, 9 rebounds and 5 blocks.

"We thought it might be a showcase game and it was," said Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski. "But having this type of crowd was amazing. Obviously, we feel great about the win, and we think we beat an outstanding basketball team."

Duke overcame by shooting only 46 percent while Gonzaga proved to be a tough test and make 53 percent of its shots. Defense was hard to come by in the second half when both teams made their rally.

But the bottom line is Duke, in Coach K’s final season, is determined to go out with a bang and the Blue Devils are off to a strong start. So long as that frontcourt of Banchero and Williams keeps producing at that level, there aren’t many teams that will be able to match up with Duke.

For the second straight game, Banchero will be matching up against another star post player. This time, Ohio State’s E.J. Liddell will take on the freshman in a star-studded matchup.

Liddell had 23 points and five blocks in Ohio State’s buzzer-beating loss to the Florida Gators last week, a sign where the big man is Ohio State’s only source of offense. He was the only starter to score in double figures while the other starters combined to go 8 of 16 from the floor.

The Buckeyes are 2-4 against the spread this season and were actually underdogs the last two times out; both 2.5-point dogs, but they covered in the 3-point win against Seton Hall. Dating back to the season opener against Akron, Ohio State was 16.5 and 19.5-point favorites and not coming close on either of them.

Duke, meanwhile, is 2-2-2 ATS and benefited greatly front the 8.5 points they were given.

Seeing how Ohio State has cooled in two of the last three games, Liddell is going to need to carry this group again in this ridiculous matchup. Despite the fact they’ve had about a week to prepare, the Buckeyes just don’t have enough of an answer for the inside-out talent of Banchero and Williams. Duke by 10

Duke is 24-29 in its last 53 ATS as a favorite.

Duke is 14-5 in its last 19 ATS after allowing 40 points or more in the first half in consecutive games.

Ohio State is 29-6 straight up in its last 35 home games.

Ohio State is 1-5 ATS after three straight overs.

PG: Wendell Moore Jr.

SG: Jeremy Roach
SF: Trevor Keels
PF: Paolo Banchero
C: Mark Williams

PG: Jamari Wheeler

SG: Malaki Branham
SF: Justin Ahrens
PF: E.J. Liddell
C: Joey Brunk

Duke: None

Ohio State: Seth Towns (out), Justice Sueing (out), Eugene Brown III (out)

Points: Paolo Banchero -- 18.3

Rebounds: Paolo Banchero -- 7.6

Assists: Wendell Moore Jr. -- 5.7

Points: E.J. Liddell -- 22.5

Rebounds: Kyle Young -- 6.4

Assists: Jamari Wheeler -- 3.8