UNC vs. Duke prediction and odds for Saturday, February 4 (Back the Blue Devils)

Jan 28, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Jaylen Blakes (2) defends Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets guard Kyle Sturdivant (1) in the first half at McCamish Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 28, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Jaylen Blakes (2) defends Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets guard Kyle Sturdivant (1) in the first half at McCamish Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The next chapter in one of the best rivalries in sports, UNC vs. Duke, will take place tonight at Cameron Indoor Stadium when the Tar heels come to town to take on the Blue Devils.

It’s a rare down season for both teams, who are sitting at sixth and seventh in the ACC with that exact same conference record of 7-4. More often than not, these two teams are fighting for the top spot in the conference, but this time both are searching for some sort of momentum.

Let’s break down the odds for the game and then I’ll tell you why Duke is the bet to make.

UNC vs. Duke odds, spread, and total

UNC vs. Duke prediction and pick

Duke has the defensive advantage in this matchup, which should be the difference maker. The Blue Devils rank 35th in opponent effective field goal percentage, while the Tar Heels ranks 140th.

Duke also holds the advantage on offensive in some advanced analytics, such as effective possession ratio, where Duke ranks 11th in the country.

Both teams have been significantly better on their home court this season. In fact, as disappointing as their season has been, Duke has been a perfect 11-0 at Cameron Indoor while UNC as been 2-4 in conference games on the road.

I’ll back the Blue Devils to get the job done on Saturday night.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.