One of the most notable games in the ACC this season tips off Saturday afternoon from Durham and it’s a contest that could help determine the league’s regular season champion. Duke and Virginia remain the two hottest teams in the conference and sit in the top two spots in the ACC standings, but which of them plays like that in this important clash?
The overall body of work out of Virginia (25-3) this season has been outstanding, as Ryan Odom has really turned this program back around in the blink of an eye. The Cavaliers have some pretty nice wins across the season and are riding a nine game winning streak that has put them at 3rd place in the ACC with a 13-2 mark. They lost their one game against North Carolina last month but are hoping things go differently against one of the top teams in the land.
It’s impossible not to be impressed with Duke (26-2) and what Jon Scheyer’s program has accomplished already. The top ranked team in the nation really proved that by knocking off Michigan last weekend and has spent recent weeks blowing out ACC foes left and right. The Blue Devils basically win the ACC regular season crown with a win on Saturday and have dynamic and unstoppable on both sides of the ball.
Virginia vs. Duke: When and Where
Date:Â Saturday, February 28, 2026, 12:00 pm ET
Location:Â Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina
Virginia vs. Duke: Where to Watch or Stream
Watch:Â ESPN
Streaming: FuboTV
Virginia vs. Duke: Betting Odds
Spread: Duke Blue Devils -9.5, Virginia Cavaliers+9.5
Moneyline:Â Duke Blue Devils -400, Virginia Cavaliers +398
Total: 137.5
Virginia vs. Duke: Series History
All-time series:Â Duke leads 126-54
Last meeting:Â Duke 80, Virginia 62 (February 17, 2025)
Projected Starting Lineups
Virginia Cavaliers
Thijs De Ridder (16.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg)
Malik Thomas (12.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg)
Sam Lewis (10.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg)
Johann Grunloh (7.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg)
Dallin Hall (5.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 4.2 apg)
Duke Blue Devils
Cameron Boozer (22.7 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 4.0 apg)
Isaiah Evans (14.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg)
Patrick Ngongba II (10.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg)
Caleb Foster (8.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg)
Dame Sarr (5.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg)
It’s been over a month since Duke had a close game played on their home floor and it’s a major challenge for Virginia to overcome. The Cavaliers have been red hot recently and desperately need their shooters to show up. Duke’s defense will be much tougher than what they’ve seen and the Cavaliers need to both solve that and find an answer to slow down Boozer. It’ll be a job for the entire frontcourt, as Virginia doesn’t have a specific player they can just lock in on Boozer. Both teams really want a fast start and the long-range shooting likely plays a role here, especially if De Ridder struggles against that strong frontcourt of the Blue Devils.
Does Virginia have what it takes to pull an incredible shocker in Durham and pull into a tie at the top of the ACC standings? Will this incredible Duke team just keep rolling and building this winning streak while securing another conference title?