Duke vs. Clemson: Picks, Predictions and Odds

The ACC’s top two teams square off Saturday night as the No. 2 Duke Blue Devils (20-2, 12-0 ACC) travel to Littlejohn Coliseum to take on the Clemson Tigers (18-5, 10-2 ACC). Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 PM ET on ESPN. 

Duke carries the nation’s longest win streak into this matchup, having won 16 straight games, including recent dominant performances in an 87-70 win over arch nemesis North Carolina and an 83-54 dismantling at Syracuse. 

Clemson, on the other hand, saw its six-game winning streak snapped in a triple-overtime home loss to Georgia Tech on Tuesday, a game that had all the makings of a lookahead spot for the Tigers. While the ACC’s top seed is no longer at stake, Clemson still has plenty to play for as it tries to bounce back and defend its home court.

Duke vs. Clemson College Basketball Betting Picks

Clemson +7.5 (-110)

This is a prime buy-low opportunity on Clemson after their exhausting triple-overtime loss to Georgia Tech. The Tigers are a seasoned squad, ranking ninth in experience nationally, with several key contributors returning from last year’s Elite Eight run. 

While Duke possesses the tallest roster in the country (by average height), Clemson’s size (ranking 63rd) and veteran presence should help neutralize some of the Blue Devils' inherent advantages.

Duke is led by Wooden Award candidate Cooper Flagg, the freshman phenom averaging 19.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. Flagg has the potential to be the best freshman in Duke’s storied history, and he’s complemented by other top-tier freshmen, including Kon Knueppel and 7ft 2in Khaman Maluach. 

The Blue Devils also have veteran leadership in Tyrese Proctor and Tulane transfer Sion James, forming a well-balanced attack that ranks fourth in adjusted offensive efficiency.

It’s easy to be in awe of this Duke squad, but Clemson does have the pieces to keep this game close. 

Point guard Chase Hunter leads the way with 17.7 points per game while shooting an impressive 43.8% from three. Ian Schieffelin anchors the frontcourt with 12.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, while Jaeden Zackery and Viktor Lakhin provide additional experience and depth. 

The Tigers rank 15th nationally in three-point shooting at 38.4%, which will be key against a Duke defense that is nails inside the arc but susceptible to some open looks from deep.

Defensively, Clemson is well equipped to keep Duke in check. The Tigers rank 41st in adjusted defensive efficiency, do a solid job forcing turnovers and limit opponents' trips to the free-throw line. 

The main concern is rebounding, as Duke is an elite offensive rebounding team, but if Clemson can hold its own on the glass, hit threes at their usual clip and force Duke into a slower-paced game, they have a great shot to cover the spread at home in a game in which the public will likely be all over Duke. 

This veteran Clemson squad won’t be intimidated by Duke’s length and talent, and playing at home in a raucous environment should provide the necessary boost to keep this one within single digits.

Under 134.5 (-110)

While Duke’s offense is elite, Clemson’s defense is more than capable of slowing the game down and making this a grind. 

The Tigers’ defense does not get overly exposed at any level of scoring and they do a nice job making opponents adjust and mix up their approach throughout the game. And because neither offense threatens to get to the free-throw line, while neither defense commits many fouls, time stoppages due to free-throw attempts should be sparse. 

The Blue Devils excel at defending inside, ranking first nationally in two-point defense and third in effective field goal percentage allowed. That could make it difficult for Clemson to find consistent scoring in the paint, further reinforcing the case for a slower pace.

Duke ranks in the top 25 in offensive rebounding percentage, while Clemson also does a solid job securing second-chance opportunities. However, that won’t necessarily lead to more points, as both teams prefer to shoot from deep, which could lead to long rebounds and offensive resets, draining the clock rather than pushing the tempo.

Clemson’s reliance on the three-point shot also plays into the under. The Tigers take a high volume of threes but don’t get much production inside, and Duke’s disciplined defense should make it difficult for Clemson to generate clean looks, which means fewer opportunities for easy points. 

If they do struggle from deep against Duke’s length, it could lead to prolonged scoring droughts. 

Duke will likely control the game’s tempo, and while they are efficient offensively, they are not a particularly fast-paced team. The Blue Devils prefer to take their time, find the best shot available and use their size advantage to dominate the boards. 

Clemson, knowing it needs to limit possessions to stay competitive, should look to slow things down and create a methodical, half-court game.

The combination of strong defenses, limited free-throw attempts and offensive rebounding leading to longer possessions all point toward the under in this matchup. Expect a slower, more physical contest where every possession matters. 

Duke should escape with a hard-fought win, but Clemson can cover the spread in a game that stays under the total with a projected final score of 68-65.

Duke vs. Clemson odds

Duke ML	-300
Clemson ML	+240
Spread	Duke -7.5
Total Points	O/U 134.5

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.