Houston Cougars vs
Duke Blue DevilsPredictions & Preview

Duke Blue Devils Favored Over Houston Cougars in Highly Anticipated Final Four Matchup

In this highly anticipated Final Four matchup between the Houston Cougars and Duke Blue Devils, both teams enter as #1 seeds from their respective regions. The game is set to take place at the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX, with tip-off scheduled for 8:49 PM EST on Saturday. Duke is favored to win with a -5 point spread that has remained steady. Stay tuned for more insights and analysis in this Houston vs. Duke prediction.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Cougars +220 | Blue Devils -260
• Spread: Cougars +5 (-110) | Blue Devils -5 (-110)
• Total: Over/Under 136.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Duke will win straight-up is 72%.

Houston vs Duke Stats

Houston Cougars

The Houston Cougars advanced to the Final Four for the second time since 2021 with a convincing 69-50 win over Tennessee in the Midwest Region Final. The Cougars dominated defensively, holding the Vols to just 15 points in the first half. They have won 17 straight games, broke the school record for wins with 34 in a single season, and are heading to the Final Four under head coach Kelvin Sampson. LJ Cryer and Emanuel Sharp led the team in scoring, with Sharp named the region's most outstanding player. Houston is perfect in the tournament with a 4-0 record and is set to battle Duke on Saturday. The Cougars have been strong on both ends of the court, averaging 72.5 points per game while allowing just 56.5 points defensively in the tournament. They have a strong shooting percentage and defensive stats, with key player Ramon Walker Jr. out due to injury. Offensively, Houston ranks highly in three-point shooting and free throws, while defensively they excel in limiting opponents' shooting percentages. With a power ranking of 1, Houston is positioned as a strong contender in the tournament.

Duke Blue Devils Analysis

The Duke Blue Devils have emerged as a top contender in the NCAA Tournament, securing their spot in the Final Four with an impressive win over Alabama. Led by Kno Knueppel and Tyrese Proctor, Duke's offense has been dominant, averaging over 90 points per game while shooting over 50 percent from the field. Defensively, the Blue Devils have held their opponents to under 70 points per game and have been efficient in limiting their opponents' shooting percentages. With a strong record of 35-3, Duke is now just two wins away from claiming their first National Title under head coach Jon Scheyer. In terms of power rankings, Duke ranks highly in both offense and defense, showcasing their well-rounded skill set heading into the Final Four. Key injuries have not been reported for the team.

Duke Favored Over Houston In NCAA Tournament Matchup

Duke comes into this game with a 3-1 ATS record in the tournament and an impressive +94 scoring margin advantage. In comparison, Houston is 2-1-1 ATS with a +16 scoring margin. Duke's strong defensive presence and offensive efficiency have been key factors in their success so far, while Houston's ball security has been crucial for their wins. However, Duke's offensive prowess and defensive capability exceed Houston's strengths. Duke's shooting percentages, especially from three-point range, are significantly higher than Houston's. Defensively, Duke has been slightly better at limiting opposing teams' shooting percentages. Despite Houston's strong defensive performance, Duke is likely to have the upper hand in this matchup. It is advisable to consider taking Duke with the spread at -5.5 points.

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