Duke vs Texas Tech Prediction 12/20/2025 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The Duke Blue Devils and the Texas Tech Red Raiders will meet on Saturday evening in a non‑conference matchup at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Duke Blue Devils Betting Preview

The Duke Blue Devils enter Saturday night’s matchup with the Texas Tech Red Raiders with an 11–0 win‑loss record (1st in ACC), including a 2–0 mark away from home. The Blue Devils have compiled wins over Florida, Michigan State, Lipscomb and Georgia, while remaining unbeaten against non‑conference opponents. In the Duke Devils 67–66 victory over the Florida Gators earlier this month, Duke forward Cameron Boozer accumulated 29 points (10 of 21 shooting from the field), 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal illustrating his ability to lead the Blue Devils frontcourt.

The Duke Blue Devils average 87.7 points (29th in nation) on 50.2 percent shooting from the field (22nd in country) and 35.2 percent shooting from three‑point range per game. Defensively, the Blue Devils are allowing opponents 60.8 points which ranks third in the country.

Freshman guard Cameron Boozer has been a standout performer for the Duke Blue Devils, averaging 23.3 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1 block and 1.6 steals per game. Sophomore center Patrick Ngongbka II is averaging 11.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.6 blocks per contest. Sophomore guard Isaiah Evans is averaging 12.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.

Texas Tech Red Raiders Betting Preview

The Texas Tech Red Raiders enter Saturday’s contest with an 8–3 record (1st in Big 12), including a 6–0 record at home. The Red Raiders have compiled wins over Sam Houston, Milwaukee, New Orleans and the Wyoming Cowboys, while losing games to Illinois, Purdue and the LSU Tigers. In the Texas Tech Red Raiders 101-90 win over the Northern Colorado Bears, Texas Tech forward Lejuan Watts tallied 36 points, 6 rebounds and 1 steal.

The Texas Tech Red Raiders average 83.6 points per game on 46.2 percent shooting from the field and 37.6 percent shooting from three‑point range. On the defensive side of the basketball, the Red Raiders are allowing opponents 73.9 points per game.

Junior forward JT Toppin leads the Red Raiders averaging 21.9 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. Guard Christian Anderson contributes 19.3 points and 7.5 assists per contest, while guard Donovan Atwell adds 11.3 points and 3 rebounds per game.

Why the Duke Blue Devils Will Win

•             Elite defense. The Duke Blue Devils are allowing opponents 58.8 points per game which ranks third in the country.

•             Home court advantage. Cameron Indoor Stadium has traditionally been one of the toughest places for visiting teams to play.

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

•             Defensive identity. Duke allows just 60.8 points per game which ranks 3rd in the country. Conversely, the Texas Tech Red Raiders are allowing 83.6 points per contest.

Why the Texas Tech Red Raiders Will Win

•             Toppin’s scoring. JT Toppin averages 21.9 points per game this season.

•             Guard play. Anderson provides reliable scoring and playmaking.

•             Upset motivation. Texas Tech will look to hand Duke its first loss of the season.

Duke Blue Devils vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders Prediction

Duke’s defensive identity and quality offense should be the difference in this game. Cameron Boozer’s ability to control the paint, paired with Isaiah Evans perimeter shooting and Ngongba II’s interior presence, gives the Blue Devils multiple ways to attack the Red Raiders. The Blue Devils defense is outstanding, holding opponents under 61 points per game in 2025. There is no doubt that the Blue Devils are well suited to slow down Texas Tech’s pace and limit second chance opportunities. With that said, I am backing the Duke Blue Devils to cover the 8.5 points in this game.

Hans Geevers's Pick: Duke Blue Devils -8.5