NCAA Basketball Prediction: North Carolina State Wolfpack vs Duke Blue Devils
Thursday, February 16, 2012
by Mike Stewart
Duke Blue Devils and North Carolina State Wolfpack rank first and second, respectively, in the ACC in field goal percentage and 3-point percentage.
That offense has led the fourth-ranked Blue Devils into a fight for first place in the conference, while the Wolfpack lurks one game behind.
In order to close that gap, North Carolina State is going to have to snap a 13-game losing streak at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Duke has dominated the series in recent years, taking five of the last six overall.
- North Carolina State Wolfpack @ Duke Blue Devils
When: 9:00 PM ET, Thursday, February 16, 2012
Where: Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham, North Carolina
TV: ET, ACC Network, ESPN Full Court, ESPN3.com
The Blue Devils have opened as 10-point favorites on SBG Global Sportsbook’s Live NCAA Basketball Odds.
North Carolina State Wolfpack (18-7): The Wolfpack have won three straight to pull themselves into strong at-large position for an NCAA Tournament berth. A win over Duke would certainly boost the resume. N.C. State has lost by an average of 18.2 points during its losing streak at Cameron Indoor Stadium, including a 76-52 setback last season in which Scott Wood was held scoreless. Wood (13.4 points) leads the 2011-12 team in scoring and has buried 43.7 percent of his 3-pointers - tops in the ACC.
Duke Blue Devils (21-4): The Blue Devils are coming off one of their better weeks of the season and may have found a stronger inside game to go along with its perimeter strength. Miles and Mason Plumlee each recorded a double-double in Saturday’s 73-55 victory over Maryland, with Miles’ 22 rebounds marking the highest total in coach Mike Krzyzewski’s 37-year career. Combined with the outside quartet of Austin Rivers, Seth Curry, Andre Dawkins and Ryan Kelly, Duke is becoming more balanced offensively as the season wears on.
1. The schools have met 235 times in their history, with the Blue Devils holding a 138-97 edge.
2. Duke is 11-2 at home. It has lost more than two home games only once in the last 16 seasons.
3. The Wolfpack have beaten up on the bottom three teams in the conference over the last three games and will play their next three against the best, with Florida State and North Carolina following the Blue Devils.
NCAA BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Blue Devils 86, Wolfpack 65.
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andre dawkins - austin rivers - cameron indoor stadium - duke blue devils - mason plumlee - mike krzyzewski - north carolina state wolfpack - ryan kelly - scott wood - seth curry
