#2 Duke vs Wake Forest NCAAB Pick: Flagg and Company Face Scrappy ACC Rival (Jan 25)

• Duke dominated Boston College, winning 88-63 for their 12th straight victory.
• Wake Forest survived a 67-66 thriller against UNC, tallying their 6th win in a row.
• These two teams last met on February 24, in a game that Wake Forest won 83-79.

The college basketball season is heating up as March approaches! In our Duke vs Wake Forest pick, two top ACC teams jockey for a top spot. Cooper Flagg continues to be a phenomenal asset for Duke.

Duke Looks to Claim #1 Spot

Duke hasn’t lost since November, now on a two month long winning streak. Future 1st-overall pick Cooper Flagg has been especially impressive during that stretch. He has averaged roughly 21 ppg, 8 rpg, and 4 apg in the months of December and January. He’ll likely continue to be Duke’s leading-scorer.

Surrounding Flagg is a roster full of talent, allowing the Blue Devils to thrive even when their star player is playing poorly. Their win over #1 Auburn, in which Flagg shot 7-18, is an excellent example. The Blue Devils play team defense and are well-coached and disciplined, making them a very tough team to beat.

Wake Forest Fights the Bubble

Wake Forest has not made the NCAA Tournament since 2017 and hasn’t played in a first round game since 2010. Yet, they have been on the bubble each of the past three seasons. After a shortened 6-16 first season, head coach Steve Forbes led the Demon Deacons to bubble results of 25-10, 19-14, and 21-14.

This season, they sit at 15-4 with a subpar KenPom ranking of 77. In order to avoid landing on the wrong side of the bubble again, it is absolutely crucial for Wake Forest to pick up ranked wins. They are 0-3 against ranked opposition so far, and won’t get a better opportunity than hosting #2 Duke this week.

Duke Blue Devils vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons Pick

Wake Forest’s 7-1 record in ACC play is certainly impressive, but they also haven’t played the strongest opposition. This week’s games against Duke and Louisville will prove if their record is a mirage once again. Regardless, Wake Forest should keep this game somewhat close on their home court. Despite being able to test Duke, they’ll ultimately be unable to keep up with the Blue Devils.