Duke Blue Devils vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons Prediction: Deacs Looking to Upset #8 Blue Devils

The Duke Blue Devils are getting hot at the right time heading into March Madness, but they still have some challenges before the tournament. On Saturday, they will make the short trip to Salem, North Carolina, to face the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. 

The Demon Deacons need some help to make the NCAA Tournament at 17-9, and a home win over #8 Duke would be a massive benefit for them in the eyes of the committee. However, it will be difficult against one of the best teams in the country. 

Duke is 21-5 on the season and 12-3 in the ACC. The Demon Deacons are 9-6 in the ACC, but they’ve struggled against the top teams in the country. The opening tip is scheduled for 2:00 PM ET on ESPN.

Here, we will break down the game and give our best bets for Duke vs. Wake Forest. 

Duke vs. Wake Forest Betting Odds for Saturday, Feb. 24th

Duke has been in difficult situations over their past two games, and they’ve come out on top. Their past two games were on the road against Florida State and Miami Hurricanes. 

Duke was a 5.5-point favorite on the road against Miami and won by 29 points. This Miami roster is similar to the team that went to the Final Four, so it was a meaningful win for the Blue Devils. 

Duke is a 2.5-point underdog and priced at +115 on the moneyline. Wake Forest is a slight home favorite at -135 on the moneyline. The total is listed at 157.5 for Saturday’s ACC battle. 

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The ESPN matchup predictor gives Duke a 55.1% chance to win on Saturday. Wake Forest is a legitimate threat, but we would have expected this predictor to favor Duke more despite being an underdog. 

The Blue Devils have been exceptional in the ACC, and they’ve shown the ability to win on the road. The biggest reason for the Blue Devils' success this season is their star sophomore, Kyle Filipowski. 

Filipowski is a generational star and will be one of the best players in the country by the time his career ends at Duke. The center leads the team in scoring with 16.9 points per game, averaging 50.2% from the field. 

He has struggled from the free throw line, and this aspect of his game must improve, but he is still dominant under the rim and tends to finish his opportunities.

Filipowski also establishes the intensity under the rim. He is the team’s leading rebounder with 8.2 per game, contributing on both sides of the floor.

The other star for the Blue Devils is Jeremy Roach. Roach scores 14.1 points per game and is one of the most efficient shooters in the country, considering the difficulty of his shots. 

Roach shoots 47.8% from the field and had a great game against Wake Forest in his last outing with 12 points and five assists. He has also been better on the road than at home this season, scoring 15.5 points per contest. 

These two have been fantastic over Duke’s latest winning stretch, and we expect them to continue on Saturday. For Wake Forest to be competitive, they must limit their turnovers. 

Duke is better at protecting the basketball and creating chaos on the defensive side of the ball. The home-court advantage for the Demon Deacons will be formidable to maneuver, but overall, the Blue Devils are the much better team, according to the KenPom Ratings.  

Duke ranks eighth overall compared to Wake Forest in 20th. Duke has a slight advantage in adjusted defensive and offensive efficiency. If the Blue Devils play their game, they should handle business. 

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Duke vs. Wake Forest Prediction and Betting Pick

Wake Forest is ready for Duke, but the Blue Devils are the better team in this spot. They have proven they can go on the road and win basketball games. Kyle Filipowski and Jeremy Roach must be fantastic, but we trust the Blue Devils. 

This game will be close, and it will sometimes look like Wake Forest will win. However, Duke knows how to win in high-leverage situations, and they have experience in this position. This should result in a victory on Saturday. 

• Duke Blue Devils vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons Pick: Duke +2.5 at FanDuel Sportsbook

How to Watch Duke vs. Wake Forest

• When: Saturday, Feb. 24th @ 2:00 PM ET

• Where: Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

• TV: ESPN

• Streaming: ESPN+

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