Duke vs Louisville Prediction 1/6/2026 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The Duke Blue Devils and the Louisville Cardinals will meet on Tuesday night in an ACC matchup at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

Duke Blue Devils Betting Preview

The Duke Blue Devils enter Tuesday evening’s matchup with the Louisville Cardinals with a 13–1 win‑loss record, including a 2–0 conference mark and a 3-0 record on the road. The Blue Devils have compiled wins over Florida, Michigan State, Lipscomb, and Georgia, while remaining unbeaten against non‑conference opponents. 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 87.3 points (24th in nation) on 49.8 percent shooting from the field and 35.4 percent shooting from three‑point range per game. Defensively, the Blue Devils are allowing opponents just 65.5 points per contest which ranks 22nd which ranks 22nd in the country.

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.

Louisville Cardinals Betting Preview

The Louisville Cardinals enter Tuesday’s contest with an 11–3 record, including a perfect 8–0 mark at home and a 1–1 record in ACC play. The Cardinals have compiled wins over California, Montana, Memphis and the Indiana Hoosiers, while dropping games to Stanford, Arkansas and the Tennessee Volunteers. More recently, in the Louisville Cardinals dominant 90-70 win over the California Golden Bears, Louisville guard Ryan Conwell tallied 26 points (8 of 16 shooting from the field), 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.  

The Louisville Cardinals average 90.4 points (14th in country) on 47.1 percent shooting from the field and 35.3 percent shooting from behind the arc per game. On the defensive side of the basketball, the Cardinals are allowing opponents 69.1 points per contest.

Sophomore guard Ryan Conwell leads the Louisville Cardinals averaging 19.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.4 steals on 40.7 percent shooting from the field per game. Guards Mikel Brown Jr. and Isaac McKneely provide the Cardinals with additional scoring options. Brown Jr is averaging 16.6 points per contest, while McKneely contributes 11.6 points per game.

Why the Duke Blue Devils Will Win

•             Elite defense. The Duke Blue Devils are allowing opponents 65.5 points per game which ranks 22nd in the country.

•             Ability to win on the road. The Duke Blue Devils are 3-0 on the road in 2025.

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

Why the Louisville Cardinals Will Win

•             Home court advantage. Louisville is 8–0 at home this season.

•             Potent offense. The Louisville Cardinals average 90.4 points (14th in country) per contest.

•             Duke’s defensive regression. Opponents have shot 50 percent or better in the Blue Devils last three games played this season.

Duke Blue Devils vs. Louisville Cardinals Prediction

Duke’s offensive balance and late‑game shot creation give them the steadier path in this matchup. The Blue Devils have multiple reliable scoring options, and Louisville’s defense has not shown the consistency needed to contain Duke for a full 40 minutes. Although the Cardinals have traditionally played well at home, Duke’s structure and half‑court execution give them the edge in this matchup.

With that said, the Blue Devils have allowed opponents to shoot over 50 percent from the field in the team’s last three games played in 2025. That is concerning. I think the better route to go In this game from a betting perspective is the over. These two teams can certainly light it up offensively.

Hans Geevers's Pick: Over 162.5