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Pittsburgh vs. Duke Prediction, Expert Picks & Odds for Jan. 7

Mike Spector

Last Updated: January 7, 2025 9:17 AM EST • 3 min 29 sec read.

Duke Blue Devils guard Cooper Flagg reacts as we make our best Pittsburgh vs. Duke prediction.
Duke Blue Devils guard Cooper Flagg reacts during the second half against the Southern Methodist Mustangs at Moody Coliseum. Photo by Kevin Jairaj / Imagn Images.

The Pittsburgh Panthers and Duke Blue Devils look to stay undefeated in ACC play when they meet at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Tuesday. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN).

  • Duke and Pittsburgh are two of three remaining unbeaten teams in ACC play (Clemson is the third)
  • Pitt head coach Jeff Capel III is a Duke alum, going 2-6 SU against the Blue Devils in his tenure as Panthers head coach
  • The two teams have combined to win 13 consecutive games entering this matchup

Duke is a sizable 14.5-point favorite in a game with an O/U of 143.5 points, and we use that information to make our best Pittsburgh vs. Duke prediction.

There's another banger tipping off at the same time over on ESPN2, and I have you covered for that one with my Tennessee vs. Florida prediction.

Tonight's best Pittsburgh vs. Duke picks

College basketball picks based on the odds from our best March Madness betting sites. Odds subject to change.

  • Against the spread pick: Pittsburgh +14.5 () vs. Duke ⭐⭐⭐
  • My best pick: Cooper Flagg Over 18.5 points () ⭐⭐⭐

Pittsburgh vs. Duke ATS prediction

Pittsburgh to cover the spread: +14.5 ⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: -110 via BetMGM | Implied probability: 52.38%

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Pittsburgh nearly got the benefit of playing at Cameron Indoor Stadium without it being at full throttle, as classes for the spring semester begin tomorrow. 

But the Panthers rank in the top 65 in minutes continuity and D-I experience, and with Jeff Capel’s knowledge of the Duke system, they should weather the storm in this road environment.

Pittsburgh’s only lopsided loss was to Mississippi State, as it struggled with the Bulldogs’ physicality, getting out-rebounded 49-27. 

That is not as much of a concern against a Blue Devils team that barely ranks inside the top 50 in offensive rebounding percentage, and 99th in defensive rebounding rate. 

The Panthers are one of the most efficient pick-and-roll offenses in the country, and is a big reason they rank in the top 20 nationally in 2-point shooting percentage.

Pittsburgh has covered an outstanding 75% of its away games (18-6-2 ATS) since 2022, and I expect it to stay within this number tonight.

Most of our best sports betting apps are in unison with the standard -110 juice on either side of the 14.5-point spread, but DraftKings has the +14.5 juiced slightly higher to -112. At -110 odds, a $10 winning wager would net $9.09 in profits.

Pittsburgh vs. Duke best pick

Our NEW college basketball player prop odds tool can help you find the best odds on any market across legal sportsbooks in your area!

Cooper Flagg Over 18.5 points ⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: -102 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 50.50%

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Duke has played four ACC games to this point. It has scored 76 or more points in each, while increasing its point total in every game, culminating in an 89-point performance against SMU (its third-highest point total of the season).

Cooper Flagg has scored 20-plus points in three of the four conference games, and has scored 24 in three of the last four overall. ;

He has made 27 of his last 29 free throw attempts and is shooting 50% from beyond the arc with multiple 3’s made in three of his last four games.

Thus, Flagg is one of the most versatile scorers in the country, and I expect him to get his against a Panthers defense that allowed an average of 85.5 points against the two KenPom top-26 teams they faced so far this season.

The value on this number and price are incredible at FanDuel, as Caesars charges -128 odds (carrying a 56.14% implied probability) to back Flagg’s Over of 19.5 points.

Live Pittsburgh vs. Duke odds

See all of this week's college basketball odds and NCAAB scores.

Pittsburgh vs. Duke opening odds

  • Spread: Pittsburgh +14.5 (-110 via BetMGM) | Duke -14.5 (-110 via BetMGM)
  • Over/Under: Over 143.5 (-105 via BetMGM) | Under 143.5 (-115 via BetMGM)
  • Moneyline: Pittsburgh +675 via BetMGM | Duke -1100 via BetMGM

Pittsburgh vs. Duke injuries

Pittsburgh vs. Duke game info

  • When: Tuesday, Jan. 7
  • Tip-off: 7 p.m. ET
  • Where: Cameron Indoor Stadium (Durham, N.C.)
  • How to watch: ESPN
  • Favorite: Duke -14.5 (-110 via BetMGM)

College basketball betting odds pages

Here are our best March Madness betting sites:

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Written By:
Mike Spector
Mike started in the sports writing industry in July 2019, and gained a lot of followers in his first year after finishing with the No. 2 overall record in an annual NFL betting competition, which made picks against the spread, and from an Over/Under and moneyline perspective. Mike is an avid fan of the NFL, MLB, tennis, and all college sports. In his opinion, March Madness is the best sporting event there is, and he's especially euphoric starting with conference tournament time in college basketball. Mike's a big advocate of "fading the public" and making plays that are contrarian, constantly citing that "there are reasons why they have those big shiny buildings in Las Vegas." When making wagers, Mike always scours the best odds at all of the major sports betting sites, where he mostly sifts through DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and bet365. He's tried several others and is of the firm belief that bettors should not just stick to one sportsbook, as there is always likely better value to be had with the same wager. In addition, while Mike received his undergraduate degree from Villanova University, he has no issue betting against the Wildcats when it comes to college basketball wagering, and suggests other bettors should always put their “head” before their “hearts.”