Duke vs Kentucky Champions Classic Information

Duke vs Kentucky Preview

The second game of the Champions Classic sees No. 5 Duke (2-0) facing No. 19 Kentucky (2-0) in an early season nationally televised primetime clash of College Basketball royalty from Atlanta. The Blue Devils won their first two, beating Maine (96-62) and Army (100-58) in two non-conference Home blowouts. And the Wildcats were also victorious in their first two, defeating Wright State (103-62) and Bucknell (100-72). Heading in here 14 ACC schools were 1-0 or better while 11 SEC teams had undefeated 2-0 records or better, so this is like the time of year in NCAA Basketball when the whales are feeding on the krill. Duke will play three Top 10 teams in the next three weeks when they face No. 9 Arizona (Nov. 22), No. 1 Kansas in Las Vegas (Nov. 26), and No. 5 Auburn (Dec. 4).

Duke Hopeful Behind Freshmen Flagg and Knueppel 

Duke (2-0-0 ATS, 2-0 O/U) ranks No. 21 the Pomeroy College Basketball Ratings and like many DI programs, saw some key cogs leave for the NBA with Jared McCain (76ers) and Kyle Filipowski (Jazz). Enter three Freshmen studs, Khaman Maluach (8.5 ppg, 10.0 rpg), Cooper Flagg (15.5 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 4.0 apg), and G Kon Knueppel (18.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg). At 7-2, 6-9, and 6-7 respectively, these three youngsters give Head Coach John Scheyer and the Cameron Crazies reason to be hopeful this season. Toss in Junior G Tyrese Proctor (12.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg) and Sophomore Caleb Foster (11.0 ppg, 3.0 apg), and Duke has a pretty solid Starting 5 and could make a run at a National Championship (+950, FanDuel). Sophomore G Sio James (11.5 ppg) and Senior F Mason Gillis (9.0 ppg) provide some decent depth off the bench in Durham.

Duke Betting Trends

• Duke is 3-1 SU/ATS vs Kentucky
• The Over is 3-1 in the Duke-Kentucky series
• The Blue Devils are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 overall
• The Under is 6-3-1 in Duke’s last 10 games
• Duke is 22-14 ATS in their last 36 games (+7.70 Units)

Kentucky Now Loaded With Veteran Transfers

Kentucky (1-0-1 ATS, 2-0-0 O/U) is much older than Duke and has a number of Seniors and Transfers on campus to help the Wildcats try to make some noise in the SEC and nationally this season. UK has seven guys averaging in double-figures in Koby Brea (19.0 ppg), Otega Oweh (15.5 ppg), Amari Williams (12.5), Jaxson Robinson (11.0), Andrew Carr (11.0 ppg), Lamont Butler (10.0 ppg), and Ansley Almonor (10.0), so like the Blue Devils, this team has scoring depth and a decent bench. UK did see Head Coach John Calipari leave (Arkansas), so Mark Pope stepped in at Lexington to train the horses. Transfers Williams (Drexel), Butler (San Diego State), Kerr Kriisa (West Virginia), Brandon Garrison (Oklahoma State), Almonor (Fairleigh Dickinson), Oweh (Oklahoma), and Carr (Wake Forest) will all get plenty of playing time and hope to jell in the Bluegrass State.

Kentucky Betting Trends

• The Over is 25-8 in Kentucky’s last 33 games (+16.15 units)
• The Wildcats went 18-15-0 ATS in 2023-24
• Kentucky is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games
• The Wildcats Team Total Under is 9-24 the last 33 (-18.25 Units)
• The Over is 7-3 in the Wildcats last 10 games

Duke vs Kentucky Prediction and Pick

This Duke vs Kentucky prediction and free NCAA Basketball pick looks to the Totals market in anticipation of a high-scoring affair in the Champions Classic. The Over is 3-1 in this series, 4-0 in all games the two have played this season, and 25-8 in the Wildcats last 33 overall. Duke topped the 100-point mark in one game this season and hit 96 in the other and have so many guys who can score while the Wildcats have a big group of Transfers used to scoring at their old schools who hope to make a name for themselves at one of the best programs in the nation under new HC Pope. Asking both teams to get to 80 points on a neutral site in a somewhat meaningless early season game makes the Over seem like the Totals lean in this must-watch hoops matchup.

Kevin’s Pick: Over 161.5