Duke vs. Kansas: Picks, Predictions and Odds

The stars collide at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Tuesday as top-ranked Kansas faces No. 11 Duke in the 2024 Las Vegas Showdown.

Kansas is perfect at 5-0, having knocked off UNC Wilmington 84-66 in its last outing a week ago. Meanwhile, Duke had perhaps its best performance of the season to date in its last game, a 69-55 victory at then-No. 17 Arizona on Friday night.

Preseason All-American selections Hunter Dickinson from Kansas and Cooper Flagg of Duke, the grizzled veteran and the freshman phenom respectively, headline this contest. But talent abounds all over the court and throughout the benches as both traditional powers are poised for big seasons.

Duke vs. Kansas betting picks and predictions

Kansas +3.0 (-110)

Kansas is the top-ranked team in the country for a reason. Well, several reasons. Dickinson, posting nearly identical averages (17.8 ppg, 10.9 rpg) to his debut season in Lawrence last year, leads a Jayhawks squad coming off a disappointing season that ended in a second-round loss to Gonzaga in the NCAA tournament.

Coach Bill Self brought in several reinforcements, highlighted by transfers Zeke Mayo (South Dakota State), AJ Storr (Wisconsin) and Rylan Griffen (Alabama). Mayo is second on the Jayhawks in scoring (12.6 ppg) behind Dickinson, Storr is right behind him at 9.4 points per game and Griffen (7.8 ppg) provides a perimeter threat.

Veteran guards Dajuan Harris Jr. and KJ Adams Jr. round out an exceptional rotation.

Duke starts three freshmen, something the Blue Devils have become accustomed to in this age of one-and-done.

Flagg has been everything coach Jon Scheyer asked for and more, leading the team in every major category, including points (17.8 ppg), rebounds (8.8 rpg) and assists (3.8 apg). He had a game-high 24 points in the win over Arizona.

Fellow freshman Kon Knueppel, who had 13 points against the Wildcats, is averaging 14.4 points.

Sudanese 7-foot-2 big man Khaman Maluach (9.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.4 bpg), another freshman, is tasked with containing Dickinson. Syracuse transfer Maliq Brown will aid Maluach in that endeavor.

Duke is 4-1 against the spread so far this season, but is 0-1 both straight up and against the spread on neutral courts. That was a 77-72 loss against Kentucky at the Champions Classic in Atlanta two weeks ago.

Kansas was there as well, and knocked off Michigan State. The Jayhawks have also beaten Duke’s rivals, North Carolina. Kansas is just 2-3 against the spread overall, but 1-0 on neutral courts.

This game has potential to go down to the wire. Either team could win, but the feeling is Kansas could cover the three-point spread as an underdog for the first time this season.

Over 149.0 total points (-110)

Two potent offenses meet up against two capable defenses. On offense, Duke is scoring 84.6 points a game, with Kansas right behind at 83.6. The Jayhawks allow 67.6 points a contest with Duke even stingier at 57.4.

Duke has played to the Under three times in five games this season, and Kansas has played to the Under four times in five games.

A point total similar to Duke-Kentucky (149) sounds about right for this matchup, and our experts see both teams going slightly beyond that.

Look for the Blue Devils and Jayhawks to combine to score Over 149.0 points tonight.

Read more betting picks and predictions for College Basketball on site.

Duke vs. Arizona odds

Duke	-150
Kansas	+125
Spread	Duke -3.0
Total Points	O/U 149.0

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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.