Houston vs Duke NCAAB Pick: Blue Devils Rolling into Final Four (Apr 5)

• Houston dominated Tennessee in the Elite 8, defeating them 69-50.
• Duke stormed past Alabama, clubbing them 85-65 in a blowout win.
• These teams last met on March 29, 2024, in a game that Duke won 54-51.

Houston and Duke face off in a stellar Final Four clash. The winner will advance to the finals as the favorite to defeat Florida or Auburn. After being eliminated in last year’s Sweet 16 to the Blue Devils, the Cougars will have revenge on the mind as they aim to snap their title drought.

Houston Facing Uphill Battle

Houston was perhaps the most underrated one seed, picked to make it out of their region by the fewest amount of people. Despite this, the Cougars have played excellent basketball this tournament. They had close calls against Purdue and a criminally under-seeded Gonzaga team, but blew the brakes off of #2 Tennessee. They face their toughest task yet against Duke.

Duke Looks Unbeatable

There were some questions for Duke entering the tournament about the relative strength of the ACC. However, even though the other three ACC teams lost in the first round, the Blue Devils have clearly established themselves as a top team regardless of conference. Future 1st-overall pick Cooper Flagg is supported by a roster full of top talent. Duke is the team to beat.

Houston Cougars vs Duke Blue Devils Pick

Houston’s defense will certainly challenge Duke, much like it did in last year’s 54-51 loss. That being said, Duke’s 4th-ranked defense is not far off from the Cougars who sit at the top. On offense, the Blue Devils rank #1, while Houston sits at #10. Both teams blew out their Elite 8 opponent, so the winner should be favored to win the Finals. I can’t bet against Duke here.