Coming into the first season with Jon Scheyer as head coach, Duke basketball fans want to know what will look different. Realistically probably not much will look different other than incorporating a bunch of new pieces into the rotation as became the norm in the last decade or so under coach Krzyzewski.
With many important pieces from last year’s team off to pro basketball, Duke will again lean on another strong recruiting class for this year’s success. The question remains, can Scheyer fit the pieces together to bring this group to the Final Four? Let’s take a look at how Duke’s Final Four odds are shaping up at some of the nation’s top online sportsbooks.
The Blue Devils open the regular season with a home game against Jacksonville on Monday, Nov. 7.
Blue Devil Final Four Odds
Multiple sportsbooks are carrying preseason Final Four odds. Most have Duke around eighth in the country with +500 odds to make the Final Four. After last season’s Final Four run, Duke is looking to not only replace its legendary coach but also the majority of last season’s contributors.
DraftKings NC
- North Carolina +330
- Kentucky +330
- Gonzaga +330
- Houston +330
- Kansas +450
- UCLA +500
- Duke +500
- Baylor +500
- Arkansas +500
FanDuel NC
- Gonzaga +200
- Houston +200
- North Carolina +230
- Kentucky +270
- Baylor +330
- Kansas +330
- UCLA +330
- Duke +350
- Arkansas +390
- Arizona +440
Where to bet in North Carolina: Behind the seasons at NC’s newest retail sportsbook
Duke National Championship Odds
| Sportsbook | DraftKings | Caesars | FanDuel | PointsBet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke National Championship Odds | +1600 | +1800 | +1300 | +1400 |
As far as National Championship odds go, the Blue Devils’ chances range from +1300 to +1800. That puts Duke similar to its Final Four odds with about the eighth-best odds to win it all. Duke is replacing so much and will have to find another Paulo Banchero-level freshman if they have any hopes of winning it all. The best value for bettors is +1800 at Caesars Sportsbook.
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Duke ACC Championship Odds
Duke has the second-best odds to win the ACC at around +300 at most sportsbooks. The only team ahead of them is their rival, North Carolina. The Tar Heels are the polar opposite of Duke in that they bring back most of their key players from last season, and UNC’s March Madness odds look strong.
PointsBet NC
- North Carolina +135
- Duke +300
- Virginia +650
- Notre Dame +1200
- Virginia Tech +1400
Caesars NC
- North Carolina +130
- Duke +290
- Virginia +500
- Florida State +850
- Louisville +1500
- Miami +1500
Where to place your bets: Best NCAA basketball betting sites in NC
Blue Devils Team Preview
Duke’s roster turnover season to season is a constant as they have been bringing in many star one-and-done freshmen starting a little over a decade ago. Replacing as much as they do this season is a lot, even by Duke standards.
Projected Starting Lineup
PG: Jeremy Roach (Jr.)
Roach is the lone returning major contributor from of last season’s Final Four team. Roach is a former top-20 recruit and averaged 8.6 points and 3.2 assists last season. Duke hopes Roach takes a step forward with his leadership and production-wise.
SG: Jacob Grandison (Sr.)
After playing two years at Illinois and then two years at Holy Cross, Grandison is back playing at the Power Five level. As no stranger to big-time basketball, Duke needs Grandison to be the steady 3-point shooter he has been throughout his career.
SF: Dariq Whitehead (Fr.)
The second overall rated recruit in his class, the expectations for Whitehead are sky high. Unfortunately, he is recovering from a foot injury and will hopefully be ready for the start of the season.
PF: Kyle Filipowski (Fr.)
Another top-10 recruit, ranking fourth in his class, is hopefully going to be a strong, athletic pick-and-pop four. He has a lot of similarities to last season’s starter at the four, Banchero, and if he can be anything close to that, it would be a big part of Duke’s chances to return to the Final Four.
C: Dereck Lively II (Fr.)
The nation’s No. 1 recruit has the potential to be a top-five pick in the NBA Draft. Lively is an outstanding shot blocker and rebounder and dunks almost everything around the rim.
Notable Early Season Games
- Nov. 15: Champions Classic vs. Kansas
- Nov. 24-27: Phil Knight tournament in Portland, Oregon
- Nov. 30: ACC/Big Ten Challenge vs. Ohio State
AP Photo/Gerald Herbert
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