The Arkansas Razorbacks are set to face the Duke Blue Devils. Check out our March Madness odds series, which includes our Arkansas Duke prediction, odds, and pick.
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Here we go. Mike Krzyzewski has coached Duke within one win of another Final Four appearance, which is profoundly impressive for any March Madness odds analyst who watched the Blue Devils earlier this season. Duke got torched by Virginia Tech in the ACC Tournament championship game. The Blue Devils were memorably blown out by North Carolina in Coach K's final home game in Cameron Indoor Stadium on March 5. Duke was not playing the defense it needed to be competitive in March. The Blue Devils looked nothing like the team which beat Kentucky and Gonzaga in the first month of the season.
When thinking about an Arkansas Duke prediction, you have to realize that Krzyzewski has found a way to improve Duke's defense while also getting big performances from role players which had not been a constant part of the regular season. Jeremy Roach has become the breakout star for the Blue Devils at this tournament, playing huge second halves and scoring game-defining buckets against both Michigan State in the second round (on Sunday, March 20) and Texas Tech in the Sweet 16 on Thursday in the West Regional semifinals. The emergence of Roach has taken pressure off Paolo Banchero and Mark Williams, the two players who have largely carried Duke this season. It would be a storybook ending for Coach K if he can get back to one more Final Four. Keep in mind that Duke has never gone more than five NCAA Tournaments without making a Final Four under Coach K. He missed five straight NCAA Tournaments at the start of his career from 1981 through 1985, but he made the Final Four in 1986. He missed 2005 through 2009 but made it in 2010. Duke has missed the Final Four at the last five NCAA Tournaments but could once again get back this season. This year would be the most special of all if Coach K can pull it off.
When formulating your Arkansas Duke pick, don't ignore the Razorbacks. They just hounded Gonzaga's offense and dominated the Zags' guards. J.D. Notae played elite defense against Gonzaga's backcourt. He and teammate Jaylin Williams will be very hard for Duke to deal with. Arkansas coach Eric Musselman is getting his players to defend at a very high level. Duke's offense solved Texas Tech on Thursday; Arkansas provides another stiff test.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Arkansas-Duke odds:
March Madness Odds: Arkansas-Duke Odds
Arkansas: +4 (-110)
Duke: -4 (-110)
Over: 147.5 (-110)
Under: 147.5 (-110)
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Why Arkansas Could Cover the Spread
The Razorbacks are playing the best defense in the NCAA Tournament. When a team handles Gonzaga's elite offense, it doesn't get any better than that.
Why Duke Could Cover the Spread
The Blue Devils are playing their best defense of the year and have better talent with more firepower than Arkansas. Coach K is coaching extremely well right now, too.
Final Arkansas-Duke Prediction & Pick
The Duke team we saw in late February and early March was not ready to make the Final Four. This is a completely different team. Coach K can smell it. The Blue Devils will not be denied.
Final Arkansas-Duke Pick: Duke -4
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