Jan 19 NCAA Basketball Prediction: Wake Forest vs Duke Blue Devils

Thursday, January 19, 2012

by Joe Rodriguez

The Duke Blue Devils welcomes Wake Forest Demon Deacons to Cameron Indoor Thursday with the stakes the same as they've been the past few matchups. The Blue Devils are rounding into form with sights set on a top seed in the NCAA tournament, while the Demon Deacons are on the verge of a complete derailment.

Wake Forest is trying to bounce back from a one-win ACC campaign last season but not even that sorry squad managed to get blown out by 36 points. That's precisely what happened last Saturday at home against N.C. State when second-leading scorer Travis McKie was ejected for throwing an elbow and leading scorer C.J. Harris played the role of disgruntled superstar instead of team leader.

Now the Demon Deacons must take their conference-worst scoring defense (69.3 points) up against the Blue Devils, who are 14th in the country in scoring (80.3).

- Wake Forest Demon Deacons @ Duke Blue Devils
When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, January 19, 2012
Where: Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham, North Carolina
TV: 7 p.m. ET; ESPN
Check Live NCAA Basketball Odds on SBG Global Sportsbook .

SBG Global Sportsbook currently have the Blue Devils listed as 22½-point favorites versus the Demon Deacons.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons (10-7): Coach Jeff Bzdelik is in serious trouble, on the verge of losing his team. Harris and McKie are the top scoring duo in the conference, but when defenses shut them down, poor shot selection – 2-of-20 3-point shooting against the Wolfpack – and poor character rise to the surface. Harris is shooting just 31percent in ACC play and has neither responded as a team leader nor reached the rim consistently against double teams. Harris has struggled against aggressive guards, and that's exactly what he'll face against Duke, which held him to 2-of-9 shooting in last year's 83-59 runaway victory.

Duke Blue Devils (15-2): Duke has had a different leading scorer in each of the past four games, including 24 from sixth-man Andrew Dawkins in a 73-66 win over Clemson on Sunday. That balance is a nightmare matchup for Wake Forest, which has been slow getting back in transition. Duke has the speed to cause turnovers in the backcourt and the sharp shooters to make this ugly. The Blue Devils are shooting an ACC-best 40.2 percent from beyond the arc.

1. Duke has won 63 consecutive home games against unranked opponents.

2. The Blue Devils have won three straight over the Demon Deacons by an average of 18 points.

3. This game could be won at the stripe. Wake Forest allowed Maryland 37 free throw attempts in its last road game, and Duke got to the line 26 times in last year’s matchup.

BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Duke 86, Demon Deacons 60.

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andrew dawkins - cameron indoor stadium - duke blue devils - jeff bzdelik - wake forest demon deacons

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