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Pittsburgh vs Duke Prediction, Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds and Picks
ACC Teams Meet in Rematch
Duke Seeks Double Bye Advantage
Teams will compete for the second time this season when the Pittsburgh Panthers meet the Duke Blue Devils in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament on Thursday.
After finishing the regular season 14-6 in conference play and fourth in the ACC, Duke received a two-game bye in the tournament and will look to use its fresher legs as an advantage.
The Panthers also finished with a 14-6 conference record but were fifth overall in the ACC, awarding them a one-game bye. Pitt will be hoping its more recent gameplay will be an advantage, as it took down Georgia Tech on Wednesday, while Duke’s last game was Saturday.
The bye worked in Pittsburgh’s favor in the second round of the ACC Tournament, as it held off a comeback from the Yellow Jackets to come out on top in a close game. The Blue Devils will aim for the same, but the Panthers will seek revenge after falling 77-69 to Duke earlier this season.
According to college basketball lines, Duke is a six-point favorite in the matchup.
Pitt Propelled by Offense
The Panthers’ offense and defense are in the top five in the ACC, but it was their offense that came through in the win.
Pitt’s offense is fifth in the ACC in scoring and sixth in shooting percentage, averaging 75.9 points a game (PPG) on 45.1% shooting, and it showed up in its win over Georgia Tech.
The Panthers took a 13-point lead into halftime over the Yellow Jackets, finishing with a 59.3% shooting percentage in the first half. Although its defense let Georgia Tech claw back into the game after the break, Pittsburgh’s offense pulled it out of the rut, shooting 53.6% in the second half.
Pitt shared the ball well, assisting on 18 field goals leading to five players scoring in double figures. Federiko Federiko stepped up big time as well, scoring 19 points after averaging 6.7 PPG.
.@Federiko_F is up to 1️⃣9️⃣ points & 8️⃣ rebounds
Pitt 52 – Georgia Tech 52 (11:55 2nd) pic.twitter.com/3w5bvKpgWl
— Pitt Basketball (@Pitt_MBB) March 8, 2023
Duke’s Defense Steps Up
The Blue Devils finished the regular season on a six-game win streak, and while their offense played a role, their defense was imperative.
Duke’s defense is one of the best in the ACC, as its 63.8 points allowed on 40.9% shooting are both second in the conference.
In their final regular-season game against North Carolina, the ACC’s fourth-best offense averaging 76.5 points a game, the Blue Devils held the Tar Heels to 57 points on 30.4% shooting. Duke held UNC’s leading scorer Caleb Love to 3-of-12 shooting while half of Armando Bacot’s points came from the free-throw line. He finished 4-of-8 from the field.
The Blue Devils’ defense was also key in their first win over Pitt, as they had to battle back from an 11-point halftime deficit. Duke held the Panthers to 26 points on 28.6% shooting in the second half to help aid the comeback, and its defense will be crucial once again against a solid Pittsburgh offense.
Duke is a longshot to win the NCAA tournament this year, with college basketball odds giving it +5000 odds to win March Madness.
Pittsburgh vs Duke Game Injuries
Pittsburgh vs Duke Head-to-Head
Pitt and Duke have met 12 times since 2007, with the Blue Devils leading the series 9-3. Duke has won four of the last five matchups, including January’s win in North Carolina.
According to NCAA basketball odds, Duke (+340) is tied for the second-best odds to win the ACC Tournament, while the sportsbook gives Pittsburgh (+850) the fifth-best odds to win.
Pittsburgh vs Duke Game Information
- Game: Pittsburgh (22-10, 14-6 ACC) vs Duke (23-8, 14-6)
- Location: Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC
- Day/Time: Thursday, March 9th, 2:30 p.m. ET
- Pittsburgh vs Duke Live Stream: TBS.com
Pittsburgh vs Duke Betting Odds
Pittsburgh vs Duke Picks and Prediction
Thursday’s game will mark the first ACC Tournament for Duke without Mike Krzyzewski as head coach, and the Blue Devils will be looking to start it on a high note, continuing their win streak from the end of the regular season.
Pittsburgh looked shaky in some moments against Georgia Tech, allowing a double-digit lead to slip away, but the Panthers remained calm under pressure and finished the game strong. Pitt’s offense led the way, a common occurrence recently, and while Duke has also had solid offense lately, its defense has been its strength this season. The Blue Devils have yet to play a tournament game, and their defense and fresh legs should be the advantage they need to move onto the semifinals.
The Duke Blue Devils are listed at -255 in our Vegas lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Blue Devils, you have a chance to win $39. The Pittsburgh Panthers are +208, offering a chance to win $208 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Duke Blue Devils a 71.83% chance to win, with the Pittsburgh Panthers at 32.47%.
The odds and predictions in the article are based on the time of writing and publication. They may differ as to when the actual event takes place.
