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Duke vs Ohio State Odds and Picks (Nov. 30)

John Perrotto

by John Perrotto in College Basketball

Updated Nov 30, 2021 · 3:25 AM PST

Paolo Banchero blocking Chet Holmgren
Gonzaga center Chet Holmgren (34) has his shot blocked as Duke forward Paolo Banchero (5) and center Mark Williams (15) defend during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
  • #1 Duke is a 2.5-point road favorite over Ohio State on Tuesday night
  • The game is part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge
  • A look at the odds and matchup can be found below with a prediction

Top-ranked Duke will play its first game this season as the nation’s #1 team when it visits Ohio State at 9:30 p.m. ET Tuesday in a Big Ten/ACC Challenge Game at Value City Arena in Columbus.

Duke (7-0) moved to the top of the polls after beating then-#1 Gonzaga 84-81 last Friday in Las Vegas. The Blue Devils began the season at #9 and were #5 prior to meeting the Zags.

Ohio State (4-2) has dropped two of its last three game, including a 71-68 decision to Florida last Wednesday in the championship game of the Fort Myers Tipoff.

Duke is a road favorite in a game that will be shown on ESPN.

Duke vs Ohio State Odds

Team Moneyline Spread Total
Duke -150 -2.5 (-110) Over 146.5 (-110)
Ohio State +125 +2.5 (-110) Under 146.5 (-110)

Odds as of November 30th at FanDuel.

Duke’s Banchero Worthy of Hype

Freshman Paolo Banchero has lived up to the hype as the second-best player in the high-school class of 2021 behind Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren. Banchero, a Seattle native, is averaging 18.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, both team-leading figures.

Banchero had 21 points and five rebounds in his head-to-head meeting with Holmgren.

Junior forward Wendell Moore Jr. had a big game against Gonzaga. He finished with 20 points, six rebounds, six assists and six steals.

Moore has been a stat-sheet stuffer this season with averages of 17.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.7 steals.

Guard Trevor Keels gives Duke another freshman who has been an immediate contributor. He is scoring 12.3 points a game while dishing 3.3 assists and making 2.1 steals.

Sophomore center Mark Williams also had a big performance against Duke with 17 points, nine boards and six blocked sports. He is averaging 6.4 rebounds and 3.1 rejections a game along with 9.9 points.

Gonzaga shot 53.1% (34 of 61) and outrebounded Duke 42-32. However, spurred by Moore, the Blue Devils forced the Bulldogs into 18 turnovers.

Duke is 12th in the nation in offensive rating with 118.1 points per 100 possessions. The Blue Devils may pose quite a challenge for Ohio State, which is 264th in defensive rating with a 102.0 mark.

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Liddell Carrying Ohio State

Junior forward E.J. Liddell has carried a heavy load for Ohio State through the first six games of the season. He is the only Buckeyes players with a double-figure scoring average.

An All-Big Ten selection last season, Liddell is averaging 22.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.8 blocked shots a game in 2021-22. Liddell went through the NBA Draft process last summer but decided to return to school.

Liddell was the only Ohio State player to score in double figures against Florida as he finished with 23 points, five boards and five blocks.

Ohio State is led by its frontcourt. Senior forward Kyle Young is scoring 9.6 points and pulling down 6.4 rebounds a game and sophomore forward Zed Key has averages of 9.3 points and 5.0 rebounds.

Eight Buckeyes are scoring at least 5.0 points a game.

Ohio State torched the Gators for 53.2% (25 of 47) shooting in Fort Myers. However, Florida’s pressure defense forced the Buckeyes into 18 turnovers. Liddell had five of the giveaways.

Ohio State lost in heartbreaking fashion when Tyree Appleby made a three-point field goal at the buzzer. He had been 1-of-9 shooting before the make.

With 13 minutes left, the Buckeyes led 47-37 but could not hold off the Gators.

Duke vs Ohio State Prediction

Duke has won two of the last three meetings with Ohio State, including the last one in 2012-13 in Durham. The Blue Devils are 19-3 all-time in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge while the Buckeyes have a 9-11 record.

Duke has put last season’s disappointing 11-11 finish in its rearview mirror. The win over Gonzaga showed the Blue Devils can beat any team in the country, including Ohio State and its struggling backcourt.

The Pick: Duke -2.5 (-110)

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