Duke vs. James Madison Best Bet and Prediction for 3/24 March Madness Game
The Blue Devils are looking to avoid an upset in the Round of 32 against the red-hot JMU.
By Cem Yolbulan
Duke took care of business in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and defeated Vermont 64-47 behind four starters scoring in double-digits. The surprising part was that sophomore star Kyle Filipowski only attempted one shot and made none the entire game but the Blue Devils didn't really need his production.
Now they will face another low-seed, the #12 James Madison but I am not sure that that is the matchup they wanted. Not only did JMU absolutely dominate Wisconsin in the first round, but they also haven't lost a game since January. They are quite possibly the hottest team in the tournament.
Duke vs. James Madison Odds, Spread, and Total
Duke vs. James Madison Best Bet and Prediction
James Madison extended their win streak to 14 games after the 72-61 win against Wisconsin. They forced 19 turnovers and held the Badgers to 37% shooting from the field. They continue to put a lot of pressure on the rim with their dynamic perimeter players like Terrence Edwards Jr. and T.J. Bickerstaff.
Plus, they will have a rest advantage. They didn't end up playing their starters too many minutes as they have an 8-deep rotation. Duke, on the other hand, continues to be a top-heavy team, with every starter playing over 34 minutes against Vermont.
Duke has to take care of the ball and not allow JMU to get out in transition. They also have to avoid fouling. James Madison went to the line 30 times against Wisconsin. If Duke starters, especially Filipowski, get in foul trouble, their depth concerns will cause them a lot of trouble.
The Dukes are a very good team. They dominated the Sun Belt conference all season and they have all the momentum and confidence in the world right now.
The Blue Devils certainly have the talent to beat them but the -6.5 spread is too big against a team like JMU.
My final pick: James Madison +6.5
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