Virginia Cavaliers vs Duke Blue Devils – NCAA Basketball Preview – February 17, 2025
Duke travels to Charlottesville to take on Virginia in an ACC matchup at John Paul Jones Arena. The Blue Devils are 22-3 overall and sit atop the ACC standings. Virginia has a 13-12 record and is trying to stay in the mix for a postseason bid.
These teams met last March, with Duke winning 73-48 at home. The Blue Devils have won six of the last ten matchups, but Virginia has taken two of the last three played in Charlottesville. Duke comes in after scoring a season-high 106 points against Stanford, while Virginia has won three straight games, including a close win over Virginia Tech.
Virginia Preview – Can the Defense Hold Up?
Virginia has been playing better after a slow start to ACC play. The Cavaliers have won five of their last seven games and are trying to stay in the top half of the conference standings. They are allowing just 64.9 points per game, ranking them among the top defensive teams in the country.
Isaac McKneely leads the team with 13.7 points per game and is shooting 41.7% from three. Andrew Rohde has been a steady playmaker, with 34 assists and just two turnovers in his last four games. Virginia’s defense will be tested against a high-powered Duke offense.
The Cavaliers will need to slow the game down and control the tempo. They have struggled at times to score, averaging just 65 points per game. If they can limit Duke’s transition offense, they will have a chance to keep it close.
Duke Preview – Offense on a Roll
Duke comes into this game in strong form, winning 14 of 15 ACC games this season. They are averaging 81 points per game and shooting over 48% from the field. In their last game, they put up 106 points against Stanford, their highest total in an ACC game in eight years.
Cooper Flagg leads the Blue Devils in multiple categories, averaging 19.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. Tyrese Proctor is also playing well, scoring 23 points against Stanford. The team is shooting nearly 38% from three-point range, which could be a key factor against Virginia’s defense.
The Blue Devils have been dominant on the road, winning seven of eight away games this season. They will look to continue their strong offensive performance and keep their lead in the ACC standings.
Betting Prediction
Duke is favored in this matchup and for good reason. They are the top team in the ACC and have been playing well on both ends of the floor. Virginia has been solid defensively, but they will need to find consistent scoring to keep up.
The total for this game could be interesting. Duke plays at a faster pace, but Virginia will try to slow things down. The Blue Devils should win this game, and they have covered the spread in 23 of their last 37 games. Expect them to continue their strong form.
Pick: Duke -6.5
Take the Blue Devils in this one!
