College Basketball Odds, Picks, Predictions Today: Can UNC Upset Duke & Cooper Flagg?

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Written By Eli Hershkovich | Last Updated February 2, 2025

Among Saturday’s college basketball odds, the No. 2 Duke Blue Devils (18-2, 10-0) square off against the North Carolina Tar Heels (13-9, 6-4) at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Unsurprisingly, the Blue Devils are Duke Blue Devils -13.5 (-109) on BetRivers favorites and near the top of my college basketball power rankings. Let’s assess the odds and my best bets for UNC at Duke, including potential same-game parlay options.

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unc at duke: College Basketball Best bets

Five-star freshman Cooper Flagg generated 25.4 points per tilt on 57.9% shooting in January alone. The only other Division I freshman in the last 15 years to average 25+ points on that level of field-goal efficiency in any month with five or more games is Zion Williamson, who did so in January and March 2019.

Bettors could argue his recent performances have inflated the spread, considering a matchup of this magnitude should help provide UNC’s best effort. Still, Flagg and Co. were already caught looking ahead to this rivalry game, failing to cover as 21.5-point favorites versus N.C. State on Monday night. They also struggled to close out Wake Forest last Saturday with a double-digit spread.

If anything, those results have cheapened the line for Duke bettors. At home, the Blue Devils’ fast-break attack should expose the Tar Heels’ transition defense, which ranks in the 21st percentile on a points-per-possession basis (per Synergy).

Couple that with their inconsistent perimeter spacing (32.1%), and their 7-14-1 against-the-spread record isn’t shocking.

Duke vs. UNC Injuries

On Thursday, Blue Devils coach Jon Scheyer told reporters that Maliq Brown (knee) could return on Saturday against North Carolina. The 6-foot-9 reserve has not played since Jan. 11. Brown’s statistical production doesn’t stand out, but his ability to switch to any position is key, particularly against the Tar Heels’ explosive offense.

With or without Brown, Duke boasts an elite interior defense, settling in the 91st percentile or better in opponents’ at-the-rim attempt rate and efficiency (via CBB Analytics). The Tar Heels would require a vintage performance from veteran R.J. Davis to pull off an upset. He’s shooting a pedestrian 30.3% clip from behind the arc this season.

For North Carolina, coach Hubert Davis said center Jalen Washington (knee) is “planning to practice” after missing Tuesday’s loss at Pitt. Without Washington, UNC would have a significant disadvantage in terms of the glass.

Final Thoughts

Squarely on the NCAA tournament bubble, the Tar Heels cannot afford a blowout loss. However, I’m not confident enough in their spotty road shooting to bet on them ATS — even at a sizeable number.

If I place a bet on this matchup, you will find it in our sports betting Discord channel. Users can enroll in push notifications by heading to the #roles server. Good luck with your bets for Duke vs. UNC odds!