The 1-seeded Blue Devils are fully healthy again, as Cooper Flagg returned from his ankle injury in Friday's dominant 93-49 win over Mount St. Mary's. However, they're set to face a tougher challenge on Sunday as they face off against Baylor in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Bears are fresh of a nail-biting 75-72 win over Mississippi State to advance to a date with Duke. The win marked the seventh straight year that Baylor won at least one game in the NCAA Tournament, a streak that began in the 2016-17 season. But they have a mountain to climb should they want to reach the Sweet 16. Baylor has proven they can play with some of the top teams in the Big 12, but this matchup remains a daunting task for the Bears.
Duke enters the contest on a 12-game winning streak, which included a run through the ACC Tournament enroute to a championship. They now have their eyes set on a deep March run, and reaching the second weekend is the first step on their path to San Antonio. Duke is also the only ACC team remaining in the NCAA Tournament, as the conference other three tournament teams; Clemson, Louisville, and North Carolina, all lost in the first round of the tournament.
How to watch Duke vs Baylor
- Date: Saturday, March 23
- Time: 2:40 pm ET
- Venue: Lenovo Center (Raleigh, NC)
- How to Watch (TV): CBS
- Streaming: fubo TV
- Duke record: 32-3
- Baylor record: 20-14
Duke vs. Baylor Odds, Spread, and Total
Odds provided by FanDuel Sportsbook.
Moneyline:
• Duke -750
• Baylor +520
Spread:
• Duke -11.5 (-114)
• Baylor +11.5 (-106)
Total:
143.5 (over -115/under -105)
Duke injury report
Maliq Brown, F - Doubtful (Shoulder)
Baylor injury report
N/A
Duke vs Baylor prediction
The Blue Devils enter this game with all the momentum in the world, and look like the potential championship favorite. Both Duke and Baylor have a mix of veteran and freshman talent, which can be crucial to any team's success in March.
If Baylor has a chance in this one, they'll need big games from both big man Norchad Omier and guard VJ Edgecombe. It will be crucial for Baylor to win the rebound battle, and create as many second chance opportunities for themselves as possible. The Blue Devils are among the top high major teams when it comes to rebounding, and if Duke controls the glass, this one could get out of hand rather quickly.
But even if Baylor can crash the glass and create second chance opportunities, it still may not be enough to overcome the Blue Devils. Duke is an immensely talented team, and while Cooper Flagg is their clear cut best player, other Blue Devils such as Kon Knueppel and Tyrese Proctor are players who can easily flip a game into the Blue Devils' favor. It takes a lot to beat a team as talented as Duke, and while Baylor should be able to keep it competitive, expect the Blue Devils to move on to the Sweet 16.