Syracuse vs. Duke Prediction and Odds for ACC Tournament Quarterfinal (Blue Devils Cruise with Buddy Boeheim Out)

The No. 1 seeded Duke Blue Devils will start their ACC tournament journey today against the No. 9 Syracuse Orange. Duke's ode to Coach K didn't go as planned, so now they will try and rebound with a conference tournament championship. The Blue Devils are heavy favorites against an Orange team that is without Buddy Boeheim, due to his thrown punch against Florida State.

Before the slip up against UNC, Duke had won seven in a row and covered in four of those games. The Orange, who are 1-4 SU in their last 5, are 1-4 ATS in their last five games as an underdog. Is this the game they at least cover?

Here are the odds for the matchup via WynnBET.

Duke vs. Syracuse Odds, Spread and Total

Spread:

• Duke: -14.5 (-110)
• Syracuse: +14.5 (-110)

Moneyline:

• Duke: -1205
• Syracuse: +705

Total:

• 149.5 (Over: -110/Under: -110)

Duke vs. Syracuse Prediction and Pick

Duke is coming off an embarrassing loss to North Carolina, and I think it will be locked in from the start today. The Blue Devils are first in the ACC in offensive and defensive efficiency, while also shooting close to 40% from three. They are a complete team and will be much more relaxed today.

Yesterday, Joe Summers wrote a piece on how Duke is undefeated ATS after a loss this season. The Blue Devils are winning those games by over 20 points per game, which is a perfect margin for this spread.

Syracuse is 12th in the conference in defensive efficiency this year and has lost both games to Duke this year by an average of 22.5 points. Without Buddy Boeheim, I just don't see the Orange having enough offense in this one to keep up with the Blue Devils.

If Duke can suffocate the Orange on the three-point line, like they do most teams, then Syracuse won't even have a puncher's chance.

Lean: Duke -14.5 (-110)

You can find Donnavan Smoot’s full betting record here.