Ranked foes are set to meet in Durham this afternoon. #20 Clemson (20-5, 10-2) has continued its recent string of success under head coach Brad Brownell. Now, the Tigers face their biggest test of the season at Cameron Indoor Stadium. #4 Duke (22-2, 11-1) remains a force, led by freshman phenom Cameron Boozer. Can the superstar center lead his Blue Devils to a crucial ACC victory?
Duke enters this afternoon as 13.5-point favorites (-110) over Clemson. The total is set at 133.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook. Here’s a college basketball pick, preview and prediction for Saturday’s game between the Tigers and Blue Devils.
Clemson vs. Duke prediction, preview
The Blue Devils will garner most of the attention in this matchup, and for good reason. With that being said, don’t sleep on the visitors; Clemson has shown it can hang tough with anyone. This group has gone 10-5 combined against Quad I and II opponents. Granted, a win at Cameron is a whole different kind of challenge. The Tigers have gone 6-2 on the road this season.
Clemson under Brownell always manages to wield an above-average defense. That unit has been nothing short of elite this season. Their 95.5 adjusted defensive efficiency is the 16th-best mark on KenPom. That’s before factoring in a glacial 64.2 adjusted tempo, 330th out of 365 Division I schools. On the glass, the Tigers rank eighth among all high-major programs with a 75.9% defensive rebounding percentage.
Putting up buckets is where things get somewhat tricky for Clemson. The team’s leading scorer is forward RJ Godfrey, with just 11.6 points per game. This is a deep, well rounded roster, with several names capable of serving as a go-to option. Still lacking a true offensive superstar can make things difficult in crunch time. The Tigers have failed to reach 70 points in eight of their 25 outings so far.
For the home team, it all comes down to Cameron Boozer. The son of All-Star Carlos, the big man is poised for a premium selection during this summer’s NBA Draft. Looking over the numbers, it’s easy to see why. Through 24 games, he’s averaging an ACC-leading 23.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. In addition, he’s notched 1.8 steals a night on the other end of the floor. That level of two-way production has placed the freshman in firm consideration for this season’s Wooden Award.
It’s not as if the Blue Devils are entirely dependent on one player. Guard Isaiah Evans is second on the team with 14.3 points per game. Patrick Ngongba has formed a terrific duo down low with Boozer. Unfortunately, the center is questionable to suit up today. The sophomore didn’t play during Duke’s 70-54 victory over Pittsburgh on Tuesday. As the team’s top defender, his absence would hurt against a Clemson crew that loves driving to the rim.
Clemson vs. Duke pick, best bet
Duke, for all its flash and star power, plays a gritty brand of basketball. Ditto for Clemson, one of the toughest outs in the country. Keeping that in mind, it’s difficult to imagine either side pulling away in this one. When the Blue Devils played Michigan State, another low-scoring, hard-nosed squad, they only eked out a 66-60 win. The Tigers fit that mold, capable of making the opposition work for every point. In this marquee matchup, a blowout feels unlikely.
