Duke’s Round of 32 victory over Baylor has punched its ticket to the Sweet 16. As a result, the Blue Devils are set to face Arizona on Thursday night in Newark. Can one of college basketball’s greatest programs win its sixth national title? Let’s take a closer look at Duke’s March Madness futures on DraftKings Sportsbook.
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Duke odds to reach the Final Four
As always, any conversation related to Duke begins with Cooper Flagg. The freshman phenom has taken the college basketball world by storm, delivering on his sky-high hype. This season, the two-way superstar has averaged team-leading marks in points (18.7 PPG), rebounds (7.5 RPG), and assists (4.2 APG). On defense, he’s chipped in with 1.4 steals and 1.3 blocks per game.
As good as Flagg has been, this squad isn’t a one-man show. Projected lottery picks Kon Kneuppel and Khaman Maluach are two-way stars. Guard Tyrese Proctor offers a reliable veteran presence in the back court. That level of depth will serve the Blue Devils well as we get deeper into the month of March. Thursday’s matchup against Arizona will serve as a massive test. While Duke grades out as one of the nation’s best teams, they faced mediocre competition in the ACC.
As dangerous as the Wildcats are, this is still a group that can be beaten. Duke’s biggest advantage will be down low, as they are the tallest team in the nation per KenPom. When these teams met in November, the Blue Devils won 69-55. A closer game is likely this week, but the result should stay the same.
If Duke moves on, they’ll face one of BYU or Alabama in the Elite 8. While both squads wield dangerous offenses, they aren’t terrific on the other end of the floor. In contrast, the Blue Devils possess a top-five offense (#1) and defense (#4) per KenPom. That level of all-around excellence is a nightmare for the deepest of rosters. Right now, it’s difficult to imagine anyone other than Duke winning the East region (-185).
Duke odds to win the National Championship
Let’s assume, as is expected, the Blue Devils advance to the Final Four in San Antonio. It’s difficult to say who they’ll face first, but their opponent is guaranteed to come from the Midwest. That’s not the easiest task, as the top four seeds are all alive in that region. Still, these aren’t programs without flaws. #1 Houston and #2 Tennessee play at a glacial pace, which has hurt them before in March Madness. On the flip side, #3 Kentucky and #4 Purdue often struggle on defense. Once again, Duke will be favored against any roster due to its elite balance.
In a tournament field with all #1 seeds in the Sweet 16, the level of competition is extremely high. Still, there’s a reason Duke has the lowest odds to win a title (+210) on DraftKings Sportsbook. Head coach Jon Scheyer has assembled a true super-team, filled with a lethal combination of star power and depth. Right now, it’ll take a monumental upset to take down college basketball’s most talented squad. The Blue Devils need to be viewed as the favorites to win this season’s National Championship.
Want to approach your March Madness Bracket with the same precision as the top 1% of bracket pool winners? Check out what the PoolGenius optimizer has to offer!
