Duke vs Stanford Prediction 1/17/2026 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The Duke Blue Devils and the Stanford Cardinal will meet on Saturday night in an ACC matchup at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, California.

Duke Blue Devils Betting Preview

The Duke Blue Devils enter Saturday evening’s matchup with the Stanford Cardinal with a 16–1 win‑loss record, including a 5–0 conference mark and a 5-0 record on the road. The Blue Devils have compiled wins over Florida, Michigan State, Lipscomb, and the Georgia Bulldogs, while losing to the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Last month, in the Duke Blue Devils 67–66 victory over the Florida Gators, Duke forward Cameron Boozer posted 29 points (10 of 21 shooting from the field), 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal showcasing his ability to lead the Blue Devils frontcourt.

The Duke Blue Devils average 85.8 points (30th in nation) on 49.5 percent shooting from the field (22nd in country) and 34.6 percent shooting from three‑point range per game. Defensively, the Blue Devils are allowing opponents 65.9 points per contest which ranks 17th in the nation.

Freshman guard Cameron Boozer has been a standout contributor for the Duke Blue Devils, averaging 22.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.6 blocks per game. Sophomore center Patrick Ngongbka II is averaging 10.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.4 blocks per contest. Sophomore guard Isaiah Evans provides the Blue Devils with further backcourt stability averaging 14.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.

Stanford Cardinal Betting Preview

The Stanford Cardinal enter Saturday night’s matchup with a 14–4 win‑loss record, including a 3–2 mark in conference play and 9-3 record at home this season. The Cardinal have compiled wins over Colorado, San Jose State, Minnesota, Portland and the Montana Grizzlies, while losing games to UNLV and the Seattle Redhawks. In the Stanford Cardinal’s 77–68 victory over the Colorado Buffaloes last month, Stanford guard Ebuka Okorie amassed 32 points, shooting 6‑of‑13 from the field and 18‑of‑21 from the free‑throw line.

The Stanford Cardinal average 77.9 points on efficient shooting on 43.5 percent shooting from the field and 35 percent shooting from three-point range per game. On the defensive side of the basketball, the Cardinal are allowing opponents 71.7 points per contest.

Freshman guard Ebuka Okorie leads the Stanford Cardinal averaging 22.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Senior guard Benny Gealer contributes 10.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.7 steals per contest. Senior forward AJ Rohosy provides the Cardinal with a strong interior presence averaging 7.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 0.6 blocks per game.

Why the Duke Blue Devils Will Win

•             Elite defense. The Duke Blue Devils are allowing opponents 65.9 points per game which ranks 17th in the country.

•             Ability to win on the road. The Duke Blue Devils are 5-0 on the road in 2025.

•             Elite scoring. The Duke Blue Devils average 85.8 points (30th in nation) on 49.5 percent shooting from the field (22nd in country).

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

Why the Stanford Cardinal Will Win

•             Home court advantage. Stanford is 9–3 at Maples Pavilion this season.

•             High level scoring. Evan Okorie averages 22.9 points per game

Duke Blue Devils vs. Stanford Cardinal Prediction

This matchup features the Duke Blue Devils elite defense and formidable offense against a Stanford team that has been excellent at home in 2025. It should also be noted that the Duke Blue Devils have played exceptional on the road this season (5-0). In my view, the Blue Devils are just significantly better than the Stanford Cardinal at this point of the season.

Hans Geevers's Pick: Duke -8.5