NCAA College Hoops Odds: No 3 Duke Visiting Temple
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
Frank Martin
No. 3 Duke Blue Devils has been historically dominant over Atlantic 10 opponents and will look to continue the trend when it takes on Temple on Wednesday at the Wells Fargo Center. Duke enters off an 85-55 victory over Pennsylvania, a team the Owls needed overtime to beat in their season opener. Behind Ryan Kelly’s double double — 18 points and 12 rebounds — the Blue Devils were able to top the 80-point mark for a fifth consecutive time en route to their fifth straight victory. Meanwhile, Temple Owls enters after a 66-63 victory over Delaware. The Owls trailed for most of the game, but Khalif Wyatt put Temple on top for good with a 3-pointer with 30 seconds left. Duke holds an 18-9 advantage in the all-time series.
- #3 Duke Blue Devils @ Temple Owls
When:
7:00 PM ET, Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Where:
Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, Iowa
TV:
7 p.m. ET, ESPN2.
The Blue Devils have opened as 7.5-point favorites on SBG Global Sportsbook’s Live NCAA Basketball Odds.
Duke Blue Devils (12-1): Duke hasn’t lost since an 85-63 defeat to No. 2 Ohio State on Nov. 29. Much of the Blue Devils’ success has come from a core of veteran starters, as well as the play of freshman Austin Rivers, who leads the team in scoring with 15 points. Three other players average double figures for the Blue Devils, including Mason Plumlee, who also leads the team in rebounding with nine per game. Duke, which ranks seventh in scoring and fifth in field-goal percentage, has shot 48 percent from 3-point range over its last three games.
Temple Owls (9-3): Like Duke, the Owls rely heavily on guard play. Guards Ramone Moore, Wyatt and Juan Fernandez are the top three scorers for Temple, averaging 17, 14 and 13 points, respectively. However, the Owls have struggled with rebounding since losing Michael Eric to a knee injury. Eric, who has missed the last eight games, led the team in rebounds with 11 per game. The key for Temple will be to defend Duke’s 3-point shooters. However, the Owls should have a chance, as they rank fourth nationally — holding opponents to 25 percent from 3-point range.
1.
Duke has won 18 consecutive games
against Atlantic 10 opponents. Its last loss came in a 59-58 defeat to Temple
on Jan. 25, 1996.
2. Temple has defeated a top-10 opponent each of the last three seasons. The
Owls defeated No. 8 Tennessee in 2008, No. 3 Villanova in 2009 and No. 9
Georgetown in 2010.
3. The
Blue Devils are 36-1 against Atlantic 10 opponents under head coach Mike
Krzyzewski, including an 11-1 mark against Temple.
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Tags
austin rivers - duke blue devils - juan fernandez - khalif wyatt - mason plumlee - michael eric - mike krzyzewski - ramone moore - ryan kelly - temple owls
