Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at #3 Duke Blue Devils
Thursday, January 17, 2013, 9:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN
Cameron Indoor Stadium – Durham, North Carolina
Opening Line: Duke -17 1/2
Current Line: Duke -16
Opening Total: 128 1/2
Current Total: 128 1/2
Opening Money Line: Duke -2200 / Georgia Tech +1315
Current Money Line: Duke -1700 / Georgia Tech +1100
The #3 Duke Blue Devils are coming off their first loss of the season last Saturday at North Carolina St 84-76 after 15 straight wins to open the season for the Blue Devils. Duke looks to rebound from that as they host the 10-5 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Duke is 2-1 in the ACC and Georgia Tech is 0-3. Duke leads the series 65-23 against Georgia Tech, including 31-5 at Cameron. The Blue Devils have won 4 straight games in the series and 28 of the last 31 including 81-74 in Atlanta last year in the only meeting between the schools.
Georgia Tech is coached by Brian Gregory. Georgia Tech has lost 3 straight games to open ACC play. The Yellow Jackets are currently last in the ACC. Georgia Tech has losses to California in a tournament in Anaheim, at Illinois and North Carolina St, and home losses to Miami and Virginia Tech 70-65 in overtime last Saturday. The Yellow Jackets have key wins over Tulane, Rice & St. Mary’s in Anaheim, and Georgia. The Yellow Jackets are 6-7 ATS and the total is 5-5 this season.
Duke is coached by Mike Krzyzewski. The Blue Devils have key wins over Kentucky in Atlanta, Minnesota, VCU, and Louisville in a tournament in the Bahamas, Ohio St, Temple in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Davidson in Charlotte, Wake Forest and Clemson. Duke is tied with Florida St for third in the ACC behind 4-0 Miami and 3-1 NC State. The Blue Devils are 9-7 ATS and the total is 7-8 this season.
Georgia Tech is outscoring teams 66-57 this season. The Yellow Jackets are #20 in points allowed nationally. Georgia Tech is shooting 42.1% from the field and 30% from 3 point range. Georgia Tech makes 64.9% of their free throws. The Yellow Jackets average 37.7 rebounds per game and give up 31.5 per game. Georgia Tech opponents are shooting 37.1% from the field and 29.7% from 3 point range. The Yellow Jackets are #12 in field goal percentage allowed and #35 in three point defense. Georgia Tech averages 14 assists, 6 steals, 4 blocks, and 12 turnovers per game.
Georgia Tech guard-forward Marcus Georges-Hunt averages 10.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists. Forward Robert Carter averages 10.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists,a nd 2.5 blocks per game. Guard Mfon Udofia averages 10 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1 steal a game. Forward Kammeon Holsey averages 9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists. Center Daniel Miller averages 7.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 2.5 blocks per game. Brandon Reed, Jason Morris, Chris Bolden, and Stacey Poole, Jr. make up the rest of the rotation. Morris is ut until mid-February with a foot injury. Forward Corey Heyward is out for the season with a knee injury. He hasn’t played in a game this season.
Duke is outscoring teams 79-62 this season. The Blue Devils are #15 in scoring nationally. Duke is shooting 47.8% from the field and 41.8% from 3 point range. The Blue Devils are #24 in field goal percentage and #7 in 3 point shooting nationally. Duke makes 71.5% of their free throws. The Blue Devils average 36.1 rebounds per game and give up 32.8 per game. Duke opponents are shooting 38.6% from the field and 30.2% from 3 point range. Duke is in the top 50 nationally in both categories. Duke averages 16 assists, 7 steals, 5 blocks, and 11 turnovers a game.
Forward Mason Plumlee averages 17.5 points, 11.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game. guard Seth Curry averages 16.4 points, 2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. He is probable with a knee injury. Forward Ryan Kelly is out indefinitely with a foot injury. He averages 13.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game. Guard Quinn Cook averages 11.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. Guard Rasheed Sulaimon averages 10.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. Tyler Thornton, Amile Jefferson, and Josh Hairston make up the rest of the rotation. Hairston will start in place of Kelly, but none of those three players average more than 3.6 points per game.
Georgia Tech is 7-18-1 ATS in road games against teams with winning home records, 8-21-1 against teams with winning records, 7-20-1 in road games, 1-6 in Thursday games, 0-4 overall, and in ACC games. Seven of the last eight games played in Durham in this series have gone under the total. The under is 13-3 overall in the last 16 in the series.
Duke is 5-1 ATS after failing to cover, 3-7 in Thursday games, 7-17 at home, 3-9 at home against teams with losing road records, and 1-7 in ACC games. The Blue Devils are 17-8 ATS in the last 25 against Georgia Tech and 7-2 in Durham. The favorite is 17-7 ATS in the series and the home team is 4-1.
Duke only uses an 8 man rotation and doesn’t have a lot of depth. The loss of Kelly hurts severely, but Duke still is better than Georgia Tech. I like Duke to win, but 16 might be too many points.
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