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The #6 Duke Blue Devils head to Maples Pavilion to face the Stanford Cardinal on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 6:00 PM ET. It’s an ACC Network game in Stanford, California. Duke is 16-1 on the season and has traveled well, sitting at 7-1 away from home. Stanford is 14-4 overall and has been tough in Maples, where their offense tends to look a little freer.
Duke is laying 9.5 points on the road, which is a real number in a conference game against a 14-win team. Stanford is coming off a loud offensive performance, and Duke is the more consistent two-way group with an efficiency edge that usually shows up over 40 minutes. The betting question is whether Stanford can keep this in a half-court script long enough to make +9.5 feel big, or if Duke’s shot quality and depth gradually turn it into a double-digit finish.
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Duke Blue Devils vs Stanford Cardinal Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor updated college basketball odds before tipoff. If you want to track movement close to game time, check the latest college basketball odds.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke Blue Devils | -524 | -9.5 (-114) | O 146.5 (-110) |
| Stanford Cardinal | +372 | +9.5 (-107) | U 146.5 (-110) |
Duke Blue Devils Betting Form
Duke is playing with the kind of steady control that usually travels. The offense sits at 85.8 points per game, they shoot 49.5% from the field, and they finish twos at an elite clip. That matters in this matchup because it lowers variance. Even if the threes aren’t automatic, Duke can still create high-percentage looks inside and keep the scoreboard moving.
Cameron Boozer has been the headliner lately, and Isaiah Evans gives them another scorer who can swing a stretch. Duke also rebounds well and moves the ball, which tends to punish teams that gamble or overhelp. Their ATS record is more mixed than their straight-up profile, and that’s relevant here. They don’t always bury teams by 15 just because they’re better, especially if the opponent is hitting shots.
For a broader look at recent results and how Duke has handled road spots, Duke stats and results are useful context.
Stanford Cardinal Betting Form
Stanford’s confidence should be high after a 95-point outburst against a top opponent, and that’s the most important part of their current form. When Stanford is scoring like that, it’s usually because the perimeter shot-making is real and they’re getting to the line enough to avoid long droughts. Their free-throw creation is a legitimate weapon, especially at home when whistles can tilt slightly toward the aggressor.
The other piece is that Stanford has been reliable as an underdog, which fits this spot. At Maples, they’ve shown they can absorb runs and still respond with offense, and that’s how you cover +9.5. The concern is defensive sustainability. If Stanford can’t get enough stops without fouling, Duke’s efficiency turns into a slow bleed where the margin keeps growing even if Stanford is scoring.
Duke Blue Devils vs Stanford Cardinal Matchup Breakdown
The tempo here looks controlled. Both teams can operate in the half court, and that usually keeps games from getting wild unless one side is turning it over a lot. Duke’s edge is shot quality inside the arc, plus the ability to generate good looks without forcing pace. Stanford’s edge is perimeter shot-making and free-throw pressure, which is a strong combo for a home dog because it creates points when the offense isn’t perfectly clean.
If Stanford is hitting threes early, this spread immediately gets uncomfortable. It’s hard to separate from a home team that’s scoring efficiently from deep, and Duke’s path to covering becomes more about consistent two-point finishing and second-half execution. If Stanford cools off even slightly, Duke has more ways to score and more ways to get stops, and that’s when a 6-point game becomes 12 in a hurry.
There’s also a total connection here. If Stanford is competitive late, you can get the free-throw finish that pushes games into the high 140s. If Duke grabs control early and the final eight minutes turn into rotation minutes and long possessions, 146.5 can look a touch high even with efficient scoring.
If you like building a repeatable process around pace, shot profile, and how late fouling impacts totals, the sports betting strategy guide is a good framework.
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Duke Blue Devils vs Stanford Cardinal Predictions and Best Bets
My lean is Duke -9.5. I don’t love laying that kind of number on the road in a conference game, but Duke’s profile is built for it. They’re efficient inside, they don’t need to live on tough threes, and they can win even if the opponent shoots well for stretches. Over 40 minutes, that tends to separate.
Stanford’s best case is obvious: make threes, live at the line, and turn this into a two-possession game late. That can absolutely happen. I’m just not sure Stanford can string together enough defensive stops to keep Duke from getting into the low 80s. If Duke gets there, Stanford has to score efficiently for the full game to stay within 9.5.
On the total, I lean Under 146.5. Stanford’s recent scoring spike is real, but this number assumes both teams are clean for most of the night. Duke can control pace when it wants to, and if Stanford has even one cold stretch from three, it’s hard to reach 147 without an extended foul parade late.
Best Bet: Duke -9.5 (-114).
NCAAB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
Games like this are where numbers matter more than narratives. Duke can be the better team and still be a bad bet if the price gets too high, and Stanford can be the underdog and still be live if the matchup creates variance through threes and free throws. The edge comes from comparing opinions, tracking how teams actually score, and staying disciplined about the line you’re taking.
If you’re building a full slate, today’s college basketball picks are a good way to compare sides and totals across the board and avoid forcing action on one “TV game.”
