Predicting Monday’s 1/23 NCAAM Lineup – Duke Over North Carolina

It’s Monday in the College world so there’s just a small plate for you to
sink your teeth in but as always, we provide you the tools and research to make
sure you’re getting the most out of every matchup to try and earn yourself a few
bucks. With just two games on the slate make sure you check them over thoroughly
before making your decision. Let’s get to it.

North Carolina Wolfpack at Duke Blue Devils

Spread

• North Carolina (+17) at Duke (-17)

Duke is coming off a huge comeback against Miami on Saturday night when they
found themselves down 12 points late in the game. The Blue Devils locked in
defensively and walked away with 70-58 loss but questions still remain.

The team has responded as well as they can without legendary coach Mike
Krzyzewski at the helm and their 15-4 record shows that. With plenty of freshmen
on the roster and the mercurial nature of Grayson Allen hanging over the team,
the Devils responded with a big win and now get to welcome the Wolfpack to town.

The Woflpack, just like the Blue Devils will be playing their second game in
three days, but this one comes on the road. North Carolina has been strong this
season with a 13-7 record but they simply lack the firepower to contend with a
Duke team who’s just beginning to find their stride.

Advice

17 points is a lot for Duke to win by even if they are playing back at home
in front of the Cameron Crazies. Take North Carolina on the spread and look out
for Dennis Smith Jr. who’s 18.9 points per game this season lead the team.

Gonzaga Bulldogs at Portland Pilots

Spread

• Gonzaga (-24) at Portland (+24)

The Bulldogs are awesome. That may sound like hyperbole but when you look at
the numbers you’d be hard pressed to disagree. Gonzaga is 19-0 on the season and
remains the only unbeaten team in the country. That 19th win came against this
same Portland team after they dismantled them 73-52 in their last meeting.

Portland gets to return home, but their 9-10 record leaves a lot to be
desired, and the question for bettors isn’t whether Gonzaga is going to win this
game, but simply by how much. The spread is set at -24 in favor of Gonzaga which
seems high despite how well they’ve bene playing. The Bulldogs beat Portland by
21 last game, and that was at home.

Further complicating things is the health of Gonzaga’s point guard, Nigel
Williams-Goss who left last game on crutches after falling awkwardly on his hip.
While he said he’s good to go for this next game, Gonzaga won’t be pushing him
to do too much in a game they should easily win.

Advice

This is an enormous mismatch, but 24 points is a lot when your starting point
guard is battling an injury and you’re playing against a team you just battled
with on the road. Portland was brutal on turnovers last game and if they can
control that we think they’ll cover. Take the Pilots on the spread.