Pedro Oliveira
To close the first round of the Elite 8 in the NCAA, we have the meeting between the University of Arkansas against Duke University, the two strongest teams in the West region. The Razorbacks delivered the Sweet 16 surprise blow by knocking out one of the favorites, eliminating Gonzaga College by a score of 74-68. On the other hand, the Blue Devils honored Coach K and helped him get his 100th March Madness win through Texas Tech University, with a score of 78-73. Who will advance to the Final Four?
Picks and Predictions for the Arkansas Razorbacks vs Duke Blue Devils NCAA Basketball Championship Elite Eight Game on March 26
- Where: Chase Center – San Francisco, California
- When: Saturday, March 26, 8:49 PM ET
- Betting Line: Arkansas Razorbacks (+4) vs Duke Blue Devils (-4)
Arkansas Razorbacks Betting Preview
- Overall Record: 28-8
- Conference Record: 13-5
- Spread: +4
- Over/Under: Over 147.5
- Moneyline: +150
If we go to the numbers, Arkansas is a better polished team than Duke in several ways, especially in the defensive area and in rebounds. They are a squad that seeks to put pressure on the ball and generate losses, which was key in their game against Gonzaga, and they themselves also take very good care of the ball, with only 19% of their possessions ending in a loss.
Unfortunately for the Razorbacks, the Blue Devils are coming off a game where their opponent was superior defensively than themselves, so they come in with the tightest pace than ever so far this season. If Arkansas wants to do a lot of damage to Duke University, they will have to place a lot of fouls on their opponents (being one of the best effective teams from the free line) and avoid as many three-pointers against them as possible.
JD Notae could repeat his great performance (21 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks) and would be a big step forward for his team on the way to reaching the NCAA Final Four.
Duke Blue Devils Betting Preview
- Overall Record: 31-6
- Conference Record: 16-4
- Spread: –4
- Over/Under: Under 147.5
- Moneyline: –170
The Blue Devils squad arrives with the best level we have seen all season, they look as they have been: unstoppable. As one of the best offenses in the entire nation, Duke’s amount of talent is too difficult to limit in these instances, and the performance of Paolo Banchero (22 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals) along with that of Mark Williams (16 points, 8 rebounds) is fulminating for any opponent at this point.
Adding Duke’s enormous ability to outplay his opponents offensively and also the superiority in size (which also leads to an advantage on the boards) leave very exposed to an Arkansas team that can undoubtedly give problems to the Blue Devils, but they do not paint their odds well against a team that lacked solidity and a spark that led them to wake up, both already achieved by them.
Right now, only the University of Kansas could match Duke as favorites to reach the national final, but a tournament as special as this, nothing is written until the chicharra sounds.
JefeBet Prediction
As much as the Razorbacks have eliminated the number one in the region, the Blue Devils’ performance surge has them on another level right now, and while they could pull him out of their boxes during the game to surprise, Duke University’s talent level right now is too convenient an advantage to say Arkansas will be the winner of the game. Coach K will have another Final Four appearance in his March Madness history.
