Duke takes on Iowa at Madison Square Garden in the Jimmy V Classic Tuesday evening in New York. Before the high-profile matchup in the City That Never Sleeps, the Blue Zone is here with some can't-miss prop bets:
Duke (-3) vs. Iowa
Duke is coming off a high from this weekend’s game against Boston College, where the Blue Devils dominated the court, winning 75-59. With the prowess of freshmen Mark Mitchell and Kyle Filipowski in the paint, scoring 15 and 13 points, respectively, and sophomore guard Jayen Blakes contributing five assists, Duke found success across the floor. Graduate guard Jacob Grandison had an eye-catching performance this weekend as well, scoring 10 points, grabbing six rebounds and dishing up three assists from the bench.
While the Blue Devils are having a solid season so far, so is Iowa. The Hawkeyes currently have a 6-1 record and are fifth in the Big Ten. This is not surprising, especially considering Kris Murray’s performances this season. The 6-foot-8 forward has vanquished his opponents with 21 points per game and an astounding 10.6 rebounds per game. Murray has set the standards high for Iowa.
However, the Hawkeyes have a dire problem that gives the Blue Devils the upper hand: a lack of talent distribution. A team that has one stellar player will fall short to a team where talent is dispersed. Having a young and impressive starting lineup along with a mature and talented bench, expect Duke to cover the spread.
Pick: Duke (-3)
Over/Under 146.5 total points
Both the Blue Devils and Hawkeyes are offensive powerhouses, averaging 72.2 and 86.4 points, respectively. Iowa has been consistently scoring over 74 points, and has even reached up to 112 points in a game. Add in Duke’s high field goal percentage, and this week's game has the potential to finish over 147 points.
To top it off, both teams have at points lacked defensive execution, with team leaders for Duke and Iowa averaging just under 10 and 11 rebounds per game, respectively. With two teams possessing effective offenses and superstar players that can punish defensive lapses, bank on the Blue Devils and Hawkeyes going punch-for-punch to the wire.
Pick: Over 146.5
Kyle Filipowski Over/Under 15.5 points
Starting center Filipowski has had a momentous season thus far. The Westtown, N.Y., native has averaged 15.2 points per game, alongside a rebound average of just under 10 per game. Last weekend against Boston College, the 7-foot freshman put up 13 points, and demolished his opponents during last week’s game against Ohio State, scoring 16 points. Throw in Iowa’s offense-first strategy, and Filipowski is sure to exceed the line.
Pick: Over 15.5
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