Duke vs California Prediction 1/14/2026 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The Duke Blue Devils and the California Golden Bears will meet on Wednesday night in an ACC matchup at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley, California.

Duke Blue Devils Betting Preview

The Duke Blue Devils enter Wednesday evening’s matchup with the California Golden Bears with a 15–1 win‑loss record, including a 4–0 conference mark and a 4-0 record on the road. The Blue Devils have compiled wins over Florida, Michigan State, Lipscomb, and Georgia, while losing to the Texas Tech Red Raiders. In the Duke Blue Devils thrilling 67–66 victory over the Florida Gators last month, forward Cameron Boozer posted 24 points and 11 rebounds, showcasing his ability to lead the Blue Devils frontcourt.

The Duke Blue Devils average 86.8 points (25th in nation) on 49.8 percent shooting from the field (22nd in country) and 35.5 percent shooting from three‑point range per game. Defensively, the Blue Devils are allowing opponents just 66.6 points per contest which ranks 25th in the nation.

Freshman guard Cameron Boozer has been a standout contributor for the Duke Blue Devils, averaging 23 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.9 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. Sophomore center Patrick Ngongbka II is averaging 11 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.6 blocks per contest. Sophomore guard Isaiah Evans provides the Blue Devils with further backcourt stability averaging 13.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.

California Golden Bears Betting Preview

The California Golden Bears enter Wednesday’s matchup with a 13–4 overall record, including a 1–3 mark in conference play and a 12-1 record at home. The Golden Bears have compiled wins over Notre Dame, Morgan State, Columbia and Pacific, while dropping games to Louisville and the Kansas State Wildcats. More recently, in the California Golden Bears 78–75 loss to Virginia Tech three days ago, California guard Justin Pippen accumulated 11 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.

The California Golden Bears are averaging 79 points on 45.8 percent shooting from the field and 36.5 percent shooting from beyond the arc per game. Defensively, the Golden Bears are allowing opponents 69.9 points per contest.

Junior Dai Dai Ames leads the California Golden Bears averaging 17.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and steal per game. Forward Lee Dort contributes 7.5 rebounds per contest, anchoring the frontcourt. California’s balanced scoring and home‑court environment at Haas Pavilion give them the ability to compete with high‑level opponents.

Why the Duke Blue Devils Will Win

•             Elite defense. The Duke Blue Devils are allowing opponents 66.6 points per game which ranks 25th in the country.

•             Ability to win on the road. The Duke Blue Devils are 4-0 on the road in 2025.

•             Elite scoring. The Duke Blue Devils average 86.8 points (25th in nation) on 49.8 percent shooting from the field (22nd in country).

  •            Balanced roster. Boozer, Evans and Ngongba II provide scoring, rebounding, and defense.

Why the California Golden Bears Will Win

•            Home court advantage. The California Golden Bears are 12-1 at home this season

•            Balanced scoring. The Golden Bears have four players that are averaging over 13 points per contest.

Duke Blue Devils vs. California Golden Bears Prediction

This matchup features Duke’s elite offensive efficiency and strong defense against a California team that has been competitive but inconsistent in conference play. The Blue Devils ability to score at all three levels, combined with their recent momentum and frontcourt advantage, gives them a clear statistical edge. California’s home environment and balanced scoring can keep them competitive, but their defensive inconsistency and struggles closing games present challenges against a Duke team that has been reliable late in contests. With that said, I like the Duke Blue Devils to pull away late and win this game.

Hans Geevers's Pick: Duke TBA