No. 2 Auburn vs No. 9 Duke Wednesday Prediction | College Basketball Picks Today, Best Bets

One of the headliners of Wednesday evening in college basketball comes when Duke hosts Auburn at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The matchup is one of 11 matchups in the Big East-Big 12 Challenge and is just one of two ranked matchups in the event.

Let’s examine the Tigers-Blue Devils matchup, including tip times, television coverage, betting odds, a brief preview of what to watch, and the best bet.

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How to Watch No. 2 Auburn vs No. 9 Duke

• TV: ESPN | Streaming: ESPN App
• Time: 9:15 p.m. ET  |  Location: Cameron Indoor Stadium – Durham, NC

No. 2 Auburn vs No. 9 Duke FanDuel Odds

• Spread: Auburn +2.5 (-102) | Duke -2.5 (-120)
• Moneyline: Auburn (+128) | Duke (-154)
• Total: OVER 146.5 (-115) | UNDER 146.5 (-105)

It’s a classic matchup of experience vs talent in this one as veteran-led Auburn takes on a talented but young Duke squad. The Tigers will rock with five seniors in their starting lineup, while the Blue Devils will be led by a pair of five-star freshmen.

Despite sitting second in the current AP Top 25, many would argue that Auburn deserves the title of the best team in the country. Twenty-six pollsters put them in that spot, but it’s splitting hairs comparing theirs and Kansas’s resumés after just one month of play. The Tigers have looked dominant in nearly every game outside of their Maui Invitational matchup against Iowa State, where they had to rally from 18 down to pull off the win. It’s all thanks to a steady backcourt, something the program hasn’t had in recent years, and National Player of the Year candidate Johni Broome. He is absolutely dominating to start the year, averaging 20.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game.

Duke has been in every game this season despite being led by youth and playing a strong non-conference schedule. Their only losses came to Kansas and Kentucky on neutral floors by a combined eight points. Freshmen Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel have led the charge and shown loads of composure in the biggest moments. The biggest shock has been the defense.

The Tigers’ physicality may be a bit bothersome for the Blue Devils. If there is somewhere you can poke holes in the Duke roster, it’s the frontcourt. While Khaman Maluach stands at 7’2", he is a developing freshman who rarely eclipses 20 minutes per contest. Broome could become a handful and tip the scales if they struggle to have an answer for his dominance down low. Duke is the more talented team, but Auburn feels more complete and prepared for a high-end matchup like this right now. Back the Tigers.

The Pick: Auburn ML (+128)

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