California (12-12) at Duke (20-3)
- When: Feb 12 2025, 9:00 PM
- Where: Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham, NC, USA
- Where to watch: ACC Network
Game Preview
Duke is favored by 23.0 | Total set at 142.5
No. 3 Duke looks to bounce back from its first conference loss of the season as it hosts Cal on Wednesday night in Durham, N.C. The Blue Devils remain atop the ACC standings, but a tough loss at Clemson snapped their 16-game winning streak, raising concerns about their interior play. Meanwhile, Cal hopes to keep things competitive in its first-ever trip to Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Duke Blue Devils
The Blue Devils (20-3, 12-1 ACC) enter this matchup looking to shake off their 77-71 loss at Clemson, a game where they struggled in the paint and on the boards. Duke led in the final minute after a clutch three-pointer by freshman sensation Cooper Flagg, but the Tigers responded with a seven-point run to seal the win. Flagg had a costly turnover in the closing seconds but took responsibility for the loss.
“We didn’t stick to our game plan the way we should have,” Flagg said. “We weren’t really there tonight. We didn’t do our jobs.”
One glaring issue for Duke was rebounding, as Clemson dominated 36-23 on the glass and outscored them 40-22 in the paint. This has been a common theme in their losses, as the Blue Devils were similarly outmatched inside against Kansas earlier this season.
Flagg leads the team with 7.7 rebounds per game, while 7-foot-2 freshman Khaman Maluach adds 6.0 per game but was limited to just 20 minutes against Clemson before fouling out. Duke will need to clean up its rebounding issues quickly, especially with a physical Cal team coming to town.
Duke remains dominant at home and is expected to take out its frustration on Cal, a team that lacks the firepower to keep up with the Blue Devils’ offensive efficiency.
California Golden Bears
The Golden Bears (12-12, 5-8 ACC) have lost three of their last four games and are coming off a 76-66 road loss to Wake Forest. However, they did win the rebounding battle in that game, an area where they have excelled all season. Cal leads the ACC in offensive rebounds per game (13.4), ranking 26th in the nation.
Head coach Mark Madsen has emphasized limiting turnovers, as costly giveaways have hurt them in close games.
“The biggest thing I’ve seen that’s correctable is taking care of the basketball,” Madsen said.
Mady Sissoko leads the Bears with 7.0 rebounds per game, while Andrej Stojakovic is the team’s top scorer at 17.9 points per game. Stojakovic, the son of former NBA star Peja Stojakovic, has been a bright spot, ranking seventh in the ACC in scoring. He recently returned from injury and is still working his way back into form.
Cal has not beaten a Top 10 opponent on the road since 2013 and hasn’t defeated Duke since 1993 when Jason Kidd led them to an NCAA Tournament upset. Given their struggles against top-tier opponents, it’s hard to see them making this a competitive game.
Betting Prediction and Analysis
Duke has been dominant at home and will be motivated to bounce back after its first ACC loss. Expect the Blue Devils to push the pace early, using their superior talent to overwhelm a Cal team that struggles to keep up with high-scoring opponents.
The key matchup will be in the paint, where Cal thrives on the offensive boards. If Duke can limit second-chance points, this game could get out of hand quickly. Additionally, with Flagg and Stojakovic both being primary scorers for their teams, expect them to have big nights.
Best Bets:
Spread: Duke -23– The Blue Devils should have no trouble covering against an overmatched Cal squad.
Total Play: Over 142.5 – With Duke’s ability to score at home and Cal’s tendency to give up points in transition, this game could see a lot of scoring.
Cooper Flagg Over Points: After a tough outing at Clemson, look for Flagg to come out aggressive and put up big numbers.
Duke should dominate from start to finish, cruising to a blowout win while covering the spread.
- NCAAB Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
