NCAA Basketball Picks: Virginia Cavaliers and Duke Blue Devils
Thursday, January 12, 2012
by Joe Rodriguez
Virginia Cavaliers hasn’t beaten perennial Atlantic Coast Conference power Duke Blue Devils since 2007, and it hasn’t won at Cameron Indoor Stadium since 1995, a span of 14 games.
The No. 17 Cavaliers will try to change that – and establish themselves among the frontrunners in the ACC title race – when the teams square off in a key conference game Thursday.
The sixth-ranked Blue Devils have won 18 straight conference games at home and is 57-1 at home since the start of the 2008-09 season with 43 straight wins at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
- Virginia Cavaliers @ Duke Blue Devils
When: 9:00 PM ET, Thursday, January 12, 2012
Where: Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham, North Carolina
TV: ESPN, ESPN3.com
The Devils have opened as 11-point favorites on SBG Global Sportsbook’s Live NCAA Basketball Odds.
Virginia Cavaliers (14-1): The Cavaliers have won 12 straight, but they got quite a scare in their conference opener Saturday, holding on for a 52-51 home win over Miami after squandering a nine-point halftime lead. Mike Scott had a big game against the Hurricanes with 23 points and eight rebounds, but no one else scored in double figures. Scott, who was named the ACC Player of the Week for the third time this season, will need more help from his supporting cast against a strong Duke team.
Duke Blue Devils (13-2): The Blue Devils bounced back from last week’s loss at Temple to pick up a road win Saturday, beating Georgia Tech 81-74 to open conference play. The win didn’t come easily, but Seth Curry had a big second half to finish with 15 points, and Ryan Kelly went 14-for-14 from the line en route to a career-high 21 points. Duke needs to get better production out of its big men, though. Mason Plumlee, who leads the ACC with seven double-doubles was held in single digits in points and rebounds against Georgia Tech.
1. Duke is 16-6 against ranked opponents in the past three seasons, including a 2-1 mark this season.
2. Virginia’s 12-game winning streak is its longest since a 15-game streak in 1981-82, and its 14-1 record is its best start since the same team opened 27-1.
3. Duke’s Austin Rivers has excelled against top competition. He has averaged 17.3 points against ranked opponents and has topped 20 points in two of Duke’s three games against ranked teams.
NCAA BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Duke 68 and Virginia 56
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cameron indoor stadium - duke blue devils - mason plumlee - mike scott - ryan kelly - seth curry - virginia cavaliers
