DUKE vs. KENTUCKY 11/6/2018 Free Pick & CBB Betting Prediction

The DUKE and the KENTUCKY will both be gunning for a victory on 11/6/2018 at 9:30 PM when they meet in a game matchup.

DUKE vs KENTUCKY
When: 9:30 PM  ET, Tuesday, November 6, 2018
Where: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana

TV: 9:30 PM
LINE: -1
PREDICTION: KENTUCKY , DUKE

Oddsmakers currently have the KENTUCKY listed as -1 point favorites versus the DUKE, while the game’s total is sitting at 155.

A major showdown will take place on the opening night of the season when No. 2 Kentucky faces No. 3 Duke in the State Farm Champions Classic in Indianapolis on Tuesday. The Wildcats have a deep incoming class while also landing Stanford transfer Reid Travis, and the Blue Devils unveil the nation’s top three recruits in RJ Barrett, Zion Williamson and Cam Reddish.

Travis brings 98 games of experience to a young roster and is looking forward to a top-level opponent in his first game at Kentucky. “The mood is a lot of excitement,” Travis said in a press conference. “Taking it game by game, but obviously we’re getting to the real big games so it’s a lot of excitement in the locker room. We want to get better, and just continue to prepare to grow.” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski is still defining roles but will throw his freshman trio of stars into the fire and see how things play out. “We’ll face different tempos and obviously Kentucky will be one of the most talented teams that we will play, but we just have to keep moving,” Krzyzewski said during a press conference. “We’re developing really good habits.”

TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

ABOUT DUKE (2017-18: 29-8): The college debut of Williamson has been an anticipated event since early in his high school career and Kentucky was one of the schools he shunned. The 6-foot-7, 285-pound Williamson has mixed well with fellow forwards Barrett and Reddish as well as another incoming freshman in point guard Tre Jones while also impressing his older teammates. “He’s so much more than just an incredible athlete,” junior forward Jack White said during a press conference. “One thing that sticks out to me is his passing ability. He can really pass the ball. He’s a really smart player. He always seems to make the right play. He makes his teammates better.”

ABOUT KENTUCKY (2017-18: 26-11): Travis (19.5 points, 8.7 rebounds) and sophomore forward PJ Washington (10.8 points, 5.7 rebounds) give the Wildcats a solid frontcourt duo that ranks among the best in the nation. Sophomore guard Quade Green (9.3) was a part-time starter last season and freshman Tyler Herro is expected to be a major 3-point threat, but Kentucky may get some answers about some of the other newcomers during the game against the Blue Devils. “We’ve got a couple of days to prepare for this next one, that will be a hard game,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said at a press conference. “Now may be harder than I thought. We need more energy defensively and the game Tuesday will be great for film to see who needs to do what.”

TIP-INS

1. Kentucky leads the series 12-9, but Duke has prevailed in seven of the past nine meetings.

2. Junior C Marques Bolden (3.9 average) is the Blue Devils’ leading returning scorer.

3. Travis scored 20 or more points on 18 occasions and posted 16 double-doubles in his final season at Stanford.

PREDICTION: Kentucky 76, Duke 75

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