Virginia Cavaliers vs Duke Blue Devils – NCAA Basketball Preview – February 17, 2025
No. 3 Duke visits Virginia for an ACC matchup on Monday night at John Paul Jones Arena. The Blue Devils are 22-3 overall and lead the conference at 14-1. Virginia is 13-12 on the season and sits in 12th place in the ACC.
Duke comes in after a dominant 106-70 win over Stanford, their highest-scoring ACC game in eight years. Virginia has won three straight games, including a 73-70 win at Virginia Tech. Duke won the last meeting 73-48 on March 2, 2024, but Virginia has won two of the last three games in Charlottesville.
This is the first of three straight road games for Duke, a test for a team that has only lost once away from home. Virginia has been much better at home, and they will need their defense to slow down a Duke team that has been rolling offensively. This game will show whether Virginia’s recent success is a sign of true improvement or just a brief hot streak.
Virginia Preview – Can They Keep the Streak Going?
Virginia has turned things around after a slow start in ACC play. They have won five of their last seven games, moving into a tie for ninth place in the conference. The Cavaliers’ recent success has been led by Isaac McKneely, who averages 13.7 points per game.
McKneely scored 22 points in their last game against Virginia Tech. Andrew Rohde has been an effective playmaker, dishing out 34 assists with just two turnovers in the last four games. Virginia has struggled offensively at times, but they rely on strong defense, allowing just 64.9 points per game.
Virginia will need to slow the game down and limit Duke’s offensive possessions. The Cavaliers have one of the slowest tempos in the country, which could work in their favor against a team that thrives in transition. If they can control the pace and force Duke into a half-court battle, they may have a chance to pull off the upset.
Duke Preview – Can the Offense Stay Hot?
Duke has been one of the best offensive teams in the ACC this season. They scored 106 points against Stanford and are averaging 81.0 points per game. Freshman Cooper Flagg leads the team in scoring with 19.8 points per game, along with 7.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists.
Tyrese Proctor added 23 points in Duke’s win over Stanford. The Blue Devils shot 62.5% from the field and made 14 three-pointers in the game. They have won two straight since their loss at Clemson.
Defense has also been key for Duke, as they are holding opponents to 42.8% shooting from the field. They have a balanced attack, ranking in the top 30 nationally in both offensive and defensive efficiency. If Duke can continue playing at this level, they will be tough to beat no matter where they play.
Betting Prediction
Duke is a heavy favorite in this game, with a 14.5-point spread. The Blue Devils have been strong on both ends of the floor, while Virginia has been improving but still struggles to score consistently. Duke won the last meeting by 25 points.
The total is set at 130.5 points. Duke has been hitting the under often, while Virginia tends to play low-scoring games. Duke should win and cover, but the under is also a strong play.
Virginia will try to keep this game close by slowing down the tempo and making Duke work in the half-court. However, the Blue Devils have too many scoring options and have been dominant all season. Expect Duke to take control early and pull away in the second half.
Pick: Duke Blue Devils -14.5
Duke wins this one easily.
