Syracuse vs Duke Prediction 2/16/2026 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The Syracuse Orange and the Duke Blue Devils will meet on Monday night in an ACC matchup at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina.

Duke Blue Devils Betting Preview

The Duke Blue Devils enter Monday evening’s game with a 23–2 win‑loss record, including a 12-1 conference mark and an undefeated 12-0 record at home. The Blue Devils have compiled wins over Michigan State, Florida, Lipscomb and the Florida Gators, while losing to Texas Tech and the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Earlier this season, in the Duke Blue Devils 67–66 victory over the Florida Gators, Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer accumulated 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 82.2 points (42nd in nation) on 49.6 percent shooting from the field (18th in country) and 34 percent shooting from three‑point range per game. Defensively, the Blue Devils are allowing opponents 63.1 points per contest which ranks third in the nation.

Freshman guard Cameron Boozer has been a standout contributor for the Duke Blue Devils, averaging 22.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, 4 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.6 blocks per game. Sophomore center Patrick Ngongbka II is averaging 10.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.3 blocks per contest. Sophomore guard Isaiah Evans provides the Blue Devils with further backcourt stability averaging 14.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.

Syracuse Orange Betting Preview

The Syracuse Orange enter Monday night’s contest with a 15–11 win‑loss record, including a 6–7 mark in conference play and a 2–4 record on the road. The Orange have compiled recent wins over California, SMU and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, while losing games to North Carolina, Virgina, Miami and North Carolina State. In the Syracuse Orange’s dramatic 79–78 victory over SMU last week, Syracuse guard Naithan George amassed 16 points (5 of 9 shooting from the field: 2 of 5 shooting from three-point range) illustrating his ability to perform at a high level.

The Syracuse Orange average 76.5 points on 47.3 percent shooting from the field and 33.3 percent from three‑point range per game. Shifting our attention to the defensive side of the basketball, the Orange are allowing opponents 72.2 points per contest.

Senior guard J.J. Starling leads the Syracuse Orange averaging 12.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1 steal per game. Sophomore forward Donnie Freeman provides the Orange with quality frontcourt production, contributing 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per contest.

Why the Duke Blue Devils Will Win

•             Elite defense. The Duke Blue Devils are allowing opponents 63.1 points per game which ranks third in the country.

•             Home court dominance. The Duke Blue Devils are 12-0 at home in 2025.

•             Elite scoring. The Duke Blue Devils average 82.2 points (42nd in nation) on 49.6 percent shooting from the field (18th in country) per game

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

Why the Syracuse Orange Will Win

•             Momentum. The Syracuse Orange arrive at tomorrow’s game on the heels of a two-game winning streak.

•             Quality guard play. Senior guard J.J. Starling leads the Syracuse Orange averaging 12.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1 steal per game.

Syracuse Orange vs Duke Blue Devils Prediction

The Syracuse Orange have shown flashes of quality play this season, but the team’s overall defensive inconsistency and consistent struggles on the road remain major concerns for the Orange. In my view, the Duke Blue Devils home court edge, offensive efficiency and balanced scoring attack make Duke the side to be on in this matchup. To be clear, the Blue Devils are just the far superior team compared to the Orange at this point in the regular season and it’s not close. With that said, I am backing the Duke Blue Devils to cover the 19.5 points in tomorrow’s matchup with the Syracuse Orange.

Hans Geevers's Pick: Duke Blue Devils -19.5