Duke vs. Kansas Basketball Betting: Will we see another thriller between the Blue Devils and Jayhawks?

While there are certainly plenty of people looking forward to the Kentucky vs. Michigan State matchup tonight in Indianapolis, the spotlight matchup of this year’s two Champions Classic clashes will see Duke face Kansas in the second game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

We don’t get to see the Blue Devils and Jayhawks meet very often, so when we do, it’s a real treat.

Since the inception of the Champions Classic, the two programs have met four times in the event, with Duke winning in 2011 and 2019 and Kansas winning in 2013 and 2016.

Their most memorable recent meeting, of course, came in the Elite Eight of the 2018 NCAA Tournament, when Malik Newman’s 32 points propelled the Jayhawks to an 85-81 overtime win on Omaha.

Thanks to North Carolina playing spoiler in Coach K’s swansong in New Orleans, we didn’t get to see Duke and Kansas face off for the national championship last season

There are a number of new faces on this year’s teams, but we should be in for another great game between two of the biggest names in college basketball.

Duke Blue Devils vs. Kansas Jayhawks Matchup Information and Betting Odds

Matchup Information

• Matchup: #7 Duke Blue Devils (2-0) vs. #6 Kansas Jayhawks (2-0)
• Venue & Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, Indiana)
• Date: Tuesday, November 15, 2022
• Game Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
• How to Watch Duke vs. Kansas: ESPN

Duke vs. Kansas Odds

Game odds are via Bovada Sportsbook as of Tuesday, November 15, 2022, at 10:15 a.m. ET. Odds from our other recommended sportsbooks may also appear in this article.

Spread

• Duke -2 (-110)
• Kansas +2 (-110)

Over/Under

• Over 144.5 (-110)
• Under 144.5 (-110)

Moneyline

• Duke -125
• Kansas +105

Is the Right Team Favored?

With the spread as it is–and it is much tighter depending on where you look–there’s a chance these odds could flip flop before tip-off. For now, though, the Blue Devils hold a slight edge with oddsmakers.

But is that how it should be?

The Jon Scheyer era has certainly gotten off to a roaring start, as Duke throttling Jacksonville by 27 and USC Upstate by 46.

Two of the members of their heralded 2022 recruiting class have started very, very well. Forward Mark Mitchell is averaging 15.5 PPG and shooting 54.2 percent from the field, while seven-footer Kyle Filipowski is averaging 12.5 PPG and 11 RPG.

But the defending national champions have retooled and have started impressively themselves, defeating Omaha by 25 and North Dakota State by 23.

The Jayhawks also boast the top Wooden Award candidate among the two teams in junior forward Jalen Wilson.

Current Wooden Award Odds

Odds are via Bovada Sportsbook.

• Armando Bacot, North Carolina +600
• Drew Timme, Gonzaga +800
• Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky +1000
• Caleb Love, North Carolina +1200
• Jalen Wilson, Kansas +1500
• Jaime Jaquez Jr., UCLA +1500
• Marcus Sasser, Houston +1500

Wilson opened the season with 19 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists against Omaha and followed with 21 points and nine rebounds against North Dakota State.

We know Jalen Wilson for Kansas already has tremendous 3nD upside. So far this season, the improvements in his on-ball creation have impressed us the most.

In these clips, he demonstrates his patience & feel with the ball in his hands knocking down some tough jumpers. pic.twitter.com/dN5BlmSFIw

— On The Clock (@OnThe_ClockBB) November 11, 2022

The Blue Devils had the country’s best class, but the Jayhawks didn’t do too badly themselves, coming in 4th in 247Sports’ rankings.

And they are getting early contributions from guards Gradey Dick, who had 23 in his collegiate debut, and MJ Rice, who scored 10 points in 18 minutes in his debut against NDSU. As it happens, Rice is a native of Durham, North Carolina, so this game is sure to have some extra meaning for him.

Duke vs. Kansas Prediction and Picks

Duke vs. Kansas Prediction: Kansas to win

Duke vs. Kansas Picks: Kansas ML (Best Value: +105 at Bovada Sportsbook) & Kansas team total over (Best Value: over 72.5 @ -105 at Bovada Sportsbook)

A lot of talented freshmen will be on the court in this matchup, but the outcome may hinge on a couple of veterans.

Duke guard Jeremy Roach returned after considering his options, and tonight’s game is an opportunity to show his skills as a scorer and a creator. He had 16 points and made four threes against Jacksonville and dished out eight assists in the win over USC Upstate.

For Kansas, Texas Tech transfer Kevin McCullar Jr. bears watching tonight. McCullar made only 6 of 15 shots in his first two games, but he will need to make the most of his opportunities tonight.

Six of the 13 all-time meetings between Duke and Kansas have been decided by four or fewer points, including each of the last three. Will we see another tight contest tonight?

I do expect a real battle between the Blue Devils and Jayhawks, and I’m also expecting a big night and a big win for Wilson and Kansas.

Both teams are breaking in a lot of new faces, but Wilson and Dajuan Harris Jr. were starters for the Jayhawks last season, and McCullar played a key role for a Texas Tech team that reached the Sweet Sixteen last season.

In an early-season game like this, even a slight advantage in experience can be valuable, and I think it will prove to be for Kansas tonight.

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