The Champions Classic and Feast Week are typically the highlights of the non-conference college basketball slate. That's the case again this year, but we have a stellar top-15 matchup on Friday at the Cameron Indoor Center.
Our staff has college basketball predictions and picks, including how to bet Duke vs. Arizona on Friday.
We have everything you need — from a betting perspective — to get set for this affair.
How to Bet Duke vs Arizona
Duke vs. Arizona
Arizona +5
By Doug Ziefel
Arizona has a ton of new faces entering the season, as it lost a lot of talent from last year's squad. However, the good news is the Wildcats replenished it very well.
All aspects of Arizona's game were on full display in its opener, as it throttled Morgan State and put up 122 points in the process. What we saw is another Arizona team that will look to push the pace and also control the glass.
The glass and the paint are going to be the two areas that Arizona can control against this Duke team. Last season, Duke used its size to control the paint on the offensive end of the floor, but in this case, Kyle Filipowski won't be the biggest man on the court.
It will be tough for Duke to get things going inside, and I'm not sold that it's a team that has the capability to beat teams from the perimeter.
Cameron Crazies and all, the Blue Devils are getting a bit too much respect here and could easily be on upset alert.
Pick: Arizona +5 (Play to +4)
Under 153.5
By D.J. James
Duke and Arizona are both blue bloods for a reason, but this should be a tightly-contested battle, especially on the defensive end.
The Wildcats lost some key pieces from last year’s team, but they brought in a few key transfers in Caleb Love, Keshad Johnson and Jaden Bradley. That said, none of these players shot above 32% from 3-point land last season.
Unless Kylan Boswell or Pelle Larsson are shooting from outside the arc, the Wildcats don't have much of a consistent deep threat.
Adding to that, Duke held teams to less than 30% from 3-point range last season, and returned much of the same crew.
Arizona also ranks in the top 15 in Adjusted Tempo (KenPom). However, Duke ranks 305th, which is similar to last season. The Blue Devils have a great defense and average 19.2 seconds per possession defensively.
Now, Arizona is clearly not the Dartmouth team Duke owned on Monday, but Jon Scheyer’s unit does have a habit of slowing the pace to its liking.
Finally, both of these teams can crash the glass. Duke is better overall with rebounding, but Arizona has Johnson and Oumar Ballo, as well as pieces off the bench who can haul in boards.
With that being the case and with neither team turning the ball over much, it looks like the squads will have only one chance to score each time down the floor.
With that, the under should be in play and taken to 151.
Pick: Under 153.5 (Play to 151)
Duke -4.5
By John Feltman
The Blue Devils took care of business against Dartmouth Tuesday evening, but they obviously face a much taller task as they host the Arizona Wildcats.
In what should be a closely-contested contest, there’s a lot to like on the Duke side of the floor that makes me comfortable in laying the points.
First off, Jon Scheyer was timid when answering reporters' questions in regards to forward Mark Mitchell, as he's questionable with a knee injury. However, guard Tyrese Proctor flat out said that Mitchell “is playing," which is terrific news for the Blue Devils.
The Cats have terrific size in their frontcourt with transfer Keshad Johnson and Oumar Ballo, which will give Duke fits on the glass all night long.
This is an Arizona team that loves to push the pace, as we saw that on full display when it dropped 122 points in its opener against Morgan State.
Despite the disadvantage in the defensive frontcourt, I think the Blue Devils are the clear side in this matchup. North Carolina transfer guard Caleb Love will definitely look for some revenge after poor performances against the Blue Devils last season, but I think that could ironically work in Duke’s favor.
Have faith in the Cameron Crazies to provide a raucous environment for the road team Cats, and trust the overall better, talented Duke team.
Pick: Duke -4.5 (Play to -5.5)
Duke -4.5
By Sean Paul
There’s nothing like a little revenge game, and maybe Caleb Love has a touch of revenge on the mind. He’s always performed well against Duke — it’ll just come in a different shade of blue this time around.
Long-term, I really like Arizona due to its rampant tempo, versatility and much-improved defense. But I think Duke is the top team in the sport for a reason; they have elite guards in Tyrese Proctor and Jeremy Roach, and Kyle Filipowski is one of the best players in college basketball.
Duke doesn’t lose in Cameron often, and the Wildcats' guards may have trouble slowing down the 6-foot-5, Proctor.
It’s Blue Devils giving the points for me.
Pick: Duke -4.5
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