No. 6 Duke vs No. 19 Kentucky Tuesday Prediction | College Basketball Picks Today, Best Bets

The Duke Blue Devils are set to square off with the Kentucky Wildcats on Tuesday night. Duke is led by freshman sensations Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel, and head coach Jon Scheyer looks to lead his team on a deep run this season. Meanwhile, the Wildcats enter with a revamped roster under new head coach Mark Pope, who looks to prove that Kentucky is still a top program without John Calipari.

Duke vs Kentucky

• Location: State Farm Arena (Atlanta, Georgia) | Time: 9:00 PM ET
• Where to Watch: ESPN
• Spread: Duke -6.5, Moneyline: Duke -275, Total: 161.5

Duke vs Kentucky Best Bet: Kentucky ML +220

The Wildcats have seemingly been overlooked with the departure of Calipari, and understandably so. The roster has been completely rebuilt, and with new players and coaches, it’s hard to judge precisely what Kentucky is like to start the season. However, Pope’s squad has looked the part through their first couple of games. On the flip side, Duke entered this season with championship aspirations, and their monster recruiting class is a significant reason. Nonetheless, both squads have the firepower and coaching to win on Tuesday night. That said, I’m taking the underdog.

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Duke vs Kentucky Best Total Bet: Over 161.5

Both squads have the offensive firepower to quickly turn this game into a shootout. Between Kentucky’s fast-paced tempo and Duke’s athletic young group, this could be one of the most fun games to watch throughout the season. That said, a final score of 84-80 could be a realistic outcome of this high-scoring spout.

Duke Best Player Bet: Kon Knueppel OVER 14.5 Points -118

Knueppel’s commitment to the Blue Devils seemingly was overshadowed by the addition of Flagg at the time. However, the six-foot-seven guard has been exceptional in the team’s first two games. Averaging 18.5 points, three rebounds, and two assists on 56.5% shooting from field goal range, the combo guard has started the year as the top scoring option for Duke. Against an aggressive Kentucky team, the Blue Devils will need their freshman to have a significant impact from the jump, likely leading to more than 15 points. 

Kentucky Best Player Bet: Andrew Carr OVER 10.5 Points +102

Andrew Carr may not be the most known Kentucky player in this matchup, but the versatile big man has left his mark on every matchup for the Wildcats to start the year. Averaging 11 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists over the first couple of games, the Wake Forest transfer has quickly become a pivotal piece to the UK’s rotation. With his role in the starting lineup, Kentucky could rely on Carr to stretch the floor against Duke on Tuesday to open driving lanes for the Wildcats’ crafty guards on offense. Nonetheless, with the opportunities he’ll get against the Blue Devils, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the forward get over 10 points again.

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