by Chuck Sommers
Monday, Dec 13, 2021
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Venue: Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham, NC
Where to watch: ACC Network
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: NL
BetMGM: Duke -36.5
Caesars: NL
Season record
South Carolina State: 3-7
No. 2 Duke: 7-1
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South Carolina State - Duke preview and analysis
Recent form
SC State: won 67-66 vs. High Point
Duke: lost 71-66 at Ohio State (Nov. 30)
A hearty welcome back to the Duke Blue Devils. One forgets that the college basketball schedule makers decided that they should get two weeks off after losing their first game of the season.
Two weeks to stew over losing, two weeks to come back home and take their frustration out on the South Carolina State Bulldogs. I think that’s a fair assumption when the teams meet on Tuesday in Cameron Indoor.
That emotional high after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs on Nov. 26 in Las Vegas was certainly felt in Duke. The Blue Devils shot just 38.5 percent in their 71-66 loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes, and Paolo Banchero was held to just 4 of 14 shooting and 14 points in the five-star freshman’s first struggle game as a college player.
Duke also had a rough go from the 3-point line, making only 4 of 14. For a team that only turned the ball over seven times in 40 minutes, to go cold like that against a team they should beat is sort of wild.
"When not getting the stops, we weren't able to lengthen the lead a couple times," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "They just stayed right in there."
Take into account that Ohio State made 48 percent of its shots but only went 11 of 22 from the free-throw line, this was a winnable game for Duke and the Blue Devils know it. Two weeks to respond against a SC State team that is coming off back-to-back 1-point wins seems like a perfect opportunity to get back into check.
Prediction
South Carolina State shoots 37.3 percent from the floor as a team and has averaged 69.8 points per game. What’s not nice is the Bulldogs shooting that bad going into a matchup against Duke. This has all the potential of being a major blowout and Duke should not have any issue covering this game. Duke by 40
Betting trends
South Carolina State is 4-0 ATS in its last four road games against winning teams.
South Carolina State is 3-0-1 ATS in its last four road games.
The over is 6-2-1 in Duke’s last nine games following an ATS loss.
Projected starting lineup
South Carolina State:
PG: Rahshaan Edwards
SG: T.J. Madlock
SF: Cam Jones
PF: Omer Croskey
C: Daequan Williams
SF: Cam Jones
PF: Omer Croskey
C: Daequan Williams
Duke:
PG: Trevor Keels
SG: Jeremy Roach
SF: Wendell Moore Jr.
PF: Paolo Banchero
C: Mark Williams
SF: Wendell Moore Jr.
PF: Paolo Banchero
C: Mark Williams
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
