Northwestern Wildcats (1-1) vs. Duke Blue Devils (2-0)
Northwestern Wildcats vs. Duke Blue Devils 9/16/23 – At Week 3 of the NCAA football season, Northwestern and Duke are set to square off in an extremely anticipated clash. Set for Saturday September 16th 2023 at 3:30 PM ET at Wallace Wade Stadium and broadcasted via ACCN, fans cannot miss this highly-anticipated battle!
Wildcats fans should keep an eye out for running back Cam Porter. After 23 rushing attempts and 98 yards this season, he averages an impressive 4.3 yards per rush average, which has helped establish their ground game despite not yet scoring a touchdown. Wide receiver Cam Johnson has made 7 receptions totaling 96 yards at an average 13.7 yard catch rate – but has yet to break into the end zone himself to give Northwestern its much-needed edge.
Jordan Waters has been nothing short of spectacular for Duke this season as their running back. On 22 attempts and 175 yards gained, Waters averages 8 yards per rush while scoring three touchdowns to contribute significantly to Duke’s offensive success. Wide receiver Jordan Moore has also proven effective, collecting 7 receptions for 104 yards (an average of 14.9 per catch) and scoring one touchdown en route to their success on offense. If you’re looking for the free accurate college football picks, consider their matchups carefully.
Northwestern Wildcats vs. Duke Blue Devils Game Info
| When: | Saturday, September 16, 2023 at 3:30 PM ET |
| Where: | Wallace Wade Stadium |
| TV: | ACCN |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
Ben Bryant QB vs. Riley Leonard QB
Ben Bryant, Northwestern’s starting quarterback, has had an uneven start to the season, showing both flashes of promise and areas for concern. In 31 out of 53 attempts for 285 yards with only one touchdown thrown. Two interceptions occurred along with seven sacks for 49 yard losses for an overall passer rating of 102.3; these statistics highlight Bryant’s difficulties making decisions under pressure situations that will ultimately improve Northwestern’s chances of victory against Penn.
On the other side of the field, Duke’s Riley Leonard has proven to be quite effective at leading their offensive unit. In 29 out of 45 passing attempts accumulated 311 yards; his completion percentage stood at an impressive 64.4% with an outstanding passer rating of 129.8, both higher marks than Northwestern counterpart, Bryant. Unlike Bryant though, Leonard managed to remain clean with no interceptions or sacks thus far in this game, showing better decision-making skills as well as managing pressure better – qualities which will prove critical factors against Duke in future battles against Duke opponents like Northwestern in future match-ups.
NCAAF Odds/Point Spread: Duke Blue Devils -1000, Total Odds: 48.5
Duke is heavily favored with a spread of -19 and moneyline of -1000. The total set at 48.5, both teams trending toward UNDER in recent games; therefore the odds show Duke as being the safer bet.
Northwestern Wildcats Betting Trends
Northwestern has struggled recently, going 7-13 Against the Spread (ATS) in their last 20 games and 1-12 Straight Up (SU). Additionally, they’ve performed poorly away from home by losing 11 out of their 12 away contests ATS or SU. Furthermore, Northwestern is 1-5 both ATS and SU against Duke over their past 5 encounters, suggesting a significant historical disadvantage.
Duke Blue Devils Betting Trends
Duke has been performing well recently against the spread, going 5-1 against it over its last 6 games and 7-1 straight up (SU) over their last eight. At home they have not been as dominant – recording 2-6 SU wins against Northwestern over this stretch; nevertheless, all signs point toward Duke as being more reliable choice.
Northwestern Wildcats vs. Duke Blue Devils 9/16/23 Betting Picks
Given recent performances, individual statistics, and betting trends, Duke is clearly the overwhelming favorite heading into this matchup. They have shown both offensive and defensive prowess in their first two games against Northwestern while outperforming their key opponents statistically. Although Duke has an unusually large spread at -19 for this matchup, its consistent ability to dominate with its current home record gives them an advantage that makes covering likely. Furthermore, maintaining pressure throughout the game gives Duke an edge in what might otherwise be a one-sided contest.
Both teams have shown an affinity towards an under total score, as both defenses have been particularly dominant recently while Northwestern’s offense, while flashy at times, has yet to show itself as consistently scoring points. If you want a more complex betting strategy involving Duke covering the spread while an UNDER 48.5 total could offer lucrative returns; otherwise a single bet should favor Duke because of their recent form and Northwestern’s struggles. For more insights and potential betting opportunities, you can also explore some free accurate sports picks.
Free Pick and Prediction: Duke 35, Northwestern 13.