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Duke vs Texas Week 1 Betting Preview
No. 6 Duke opens its season Tuesday, Nov. 4, in Charlotte against a retooled Texas squad led by new head coach Sean Miller. The matchup headlines the Dick Vitale Invitational, with the Blue Devils favored to make another deep March run after last year’s Final Four.
Head coach Jon Scheyer is counting on freshmen Cameron Boozer and Nikolas Khamenia to fill major roles. Duke’s rotation also includes returnees Isaiah Evans, Caleb Foster, and Patrick Ngongba II, giving them scoring depth and defensive flexibility.
Texas enters after a 19-16 season but has added key transfers such as Lassina Traore, Dailyn Swain, and Matas Vokietaitis. Miller’s up-tempo approach should test Duke’s conditioning and defensive communication early. You can check more upcoming matchups on the college basketball previews page
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Line Movement and Odds
Oddsmakers opened Duke as a –8 favorite with a total of 150.5. The current line sits around Duke –7.5 with the total steady at 150.5, showing mild two-way action. The moneyline lists Duke near –300 and Texas +250.
Public money leans toward the Blue Devils after their Final Four run, while sharp bettors grabbed early points with the Longhorns. For live updates across all college games, visit the NCAA basketball odds board
Matchup Breakdown
Duke outlook: The Blue Devils ranked among the top 10 last season in defensive efficiency and should again rely on versatility and tempo control. Scheyer emphasized lineup balance in preseason: “Our depth is in our versatility.”
Texas outlook: The Longhorns are rebuilding under Miller but return experienced guards Tramon Mark and Jordan Pope. Their inside-out attack revolves around Traore and Vokietaitis, though both are easing back from minor preseason injuries.
Key battle: Duke’s half-court defense versus Texas’ drive-and-kick spacing. Expect Duke’s frontcourt length to dictate pace. Bettors can find expert breakdowns like this one on the college basketball picks page
Injuries and Conditions
Duke Blue Devils:
- Forward Maliq Brown (knee) – limited practice participation, questionable for opener.
- Guard Dame Sarr (oblique) – returned for the final exhibition, probable.
See full details on the Duke team page
Texas Longhorns:
- Center Matas Vokietaitis (ankle) – expected to play.
- Forward Lassina Traore (foot) – game-time decision.
See updates on the Texas team page
Conditions: Indoor court at Spectrum Center, no weather impact.
Best Bets and Prediction
Texas has covered only three of its past 13 games, while Duke went 11-4 ATS down the stretch last season. With Duke’s experience and interior defense, this sets up well for a controlled tempo.
Projected score: Duke 78, Texas 69
Best bet: Duke –7.5
Secondary lean: Under 150.5 points
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