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Don’t sleep on the sneaky upset potential between No. 13 Vermont (28-6) and No. 4 Duke (24-8) when they meet this Friday night at Barclays Center. The Catamounts are here to play spoiler, and their stellar defense could help them get the job done.
Regardless of the outcome, everyone can be a winner at DraftKings Sportsbook, which is offering $150 in bonus bets to new users who wager at least $5 on their first bet for Vermont vs. Duke.
Read more on this 13 vs. 4 March Madness matchup and DraftKings’ latest offer below.
No. 13 Vermont vs. No. 4 Duke Odds
- Spread: Vermont +12 (-108) • Duke -12 (-112)
- Moneyline: Vermont (+550) • Duke (-800)
- Total: Over 132.5 (-108) • Under 132.5 (-112)
Vermont is installed as 12-point underdogs, which is not unusual for a matchup of this disparity. The Catamounts went 28-6 and won the America East Conference, but their strength of schedule was relatively weak — especially when compared to Duke, which fought its way through the ACC.
Despite the Blue Devils’ high-powered offense, oddsmakers believe this will be a low-scoring game, as evidenced by the 132.5-point total. Vermont allows the ninth-fewest points per game (63.0) and plays at one of the slowest tempos in the nation.
Vermont vs. Duke Prediction
I was all-in on Duke before I dove into the specifics of this matchup, and now I’m second-guessing myself. The Blue Devils feature a balanced scoring attack but have been especially efficient from three-point range this season, although that could change against the Catamounts.
Vermont has limited opponents to 31.4% shooting from three-point range — a top-50 mark in the country — and it rarely sends players to the free-throw line. On offense, the Catamounts play slow but work for efficient shots, sinking 54.7% of their two-point attempts (41st among Division I programs).
Of course, Vermont has played a weak schedule and has yet to take on a team of Duke’s caliber. However, it has put a scare into top contenders in the past, losing 75-71 to No. 4 Arkansas in 2021-22.
An upset seems unlikely, but the Catamounts could certainly be a reality check for the Blue Devils. Vermont will leave it all on the line.
Vermont vs. Duke Best Bets
Vermont +12 (-108) vs Duke
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 Unit
Vermont’s style of play is conducive to covering large spreads, such as the 12-point line it’s facing in the first round. The Catamounts rank No. 350 out of 362 in KenPom’s adjusted tempo metric and 60th in defensive efficiency, indicating that they prefer to slow things down and keep the margins tight.
Duke could bust out if it can get going from three-point range, but that could be challenging against Vermont’s stout defense. The Catamounts will be glad to let them attempt shots inside the arc instead.
An upset is possible, but a cover seems far more certain. Take the points.
Under 132.5 (-112)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 Unit
Vermont’s suffocating defense and penchant for playing at a slow tempo should make this one of the lower-scoring games on Friday’s slate. Duke also ranks 24th in KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency metric, so don’t sleep on the Blue Devils’ ability to clamp up.
Vermont vs. Duke: Best DraftKings Betting Promo
New users who tap the link below and sign up at DraftKings Sportsbook ahead of Vermont vs. Duke will get $150 in bonus bets to use throughout March Madness.
To earn your bonus, simply wager $5 or more on Vermont vs. Duke once you’ve registered for an account. Whether you win or lose your bet, DraftKings will give you $150 in bonus bets, paid as six tokens worth $25 each. You can substitute these in place of real cash to make NCAA Tournament bets.
Since you’ll get your bonus whether you win or lose, it’s best to shoot for the moon and put your money on the underdog. A $5 bet on Vermont at (+550) would pay over $30 on top of the bonus bets.
You’ll have seven days to make use of your bonus funds before they expire.
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