The No. 3 Duke Blue Devils face the Illinois Fighting Illini in a highly anticipated matchup at Madison Square Garden. Duke, with a strong 23-3 record, is favored to win against Illinois, which has struggled lately with a 17-10 record.
Key Factors to Consider
Duke has been dominant, winning 19 of their last 20 games, while Illinois has dropped five of their last seven. Duke's Cooper Flagg poses a significant challenge for Illinois's defense.
Duke leads the series 5-3, but Illinois won their last meeting in 2020. At neutral sites, Duke leads 5-1.
Illinois is without Morez Johnson Jr. due to a broken wrist, and Tomislav Ivisic has been dealing with health issues.
The game is at Madison Square Garden, a neutral site, which could impact performance. Illinois has a strong rebounding margin but faces a tough test against Duke.
Illinois needs a win to boost their morale and standings, while Duke aims to maintain their top form.
Odds and Predictions
Category
Odds
Prediction
Confidence
Moneyline
Duke -465, Illinois 340
Duke
★★★★☆ 80%
Spread
Duke -9.5 -105, Illinois 9.5 -115
Illinois +9.5
★★★☆☆ 55%
Over_under
Over 155.5 -115, Under 155.5 -105
Under 155.5
★★★☆☆ 60%
Predicted Outcome
Duke is expected to win due to their strong recent performance and the challenges Illinois faces.