Wake Forest is largely considered to be on the wrong side of the bubble for the 2025 NCAA Tournament, but the Demon Deacons likely would earn an at-large bid by winning at ACC leader and national No. 2 Duke, although the Blue Devils are massive favorites on the NCAA betting Odds.

ESPN currently lists Wake Forest (20-9, 12-6 ACC) among its “Next Four Out,” while CBS Sports has the Deacons among its “First Four Out.” The school hasn’t been to the Dance since losing in the 2017 First Four. Coach Steve Forbes might be in some trouble if the Deacs don’t get in this season. They also have the carrot of trying to finish fourth in the ACC and get a double-bye in the conference tourney.

Wake Forest vs Duke Picks, NCAA betting Odds & TV Info

NCAAB Moneylines: Duke -5000 / Wake Forest +1310
When: Monday, 7 PM ET
Where: Cameron Indoor Stadium
TV: ESPN
Stream: ESPN+

Duke (26-3, 17-1) would clinch no worse than a share of the ACC regular-season title with a victory, as it leads the league by a game over Clemson and Louisville. The Blue Devils are all but locks to be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and superstar freshman Cooper Flagg is the betting favorite to win the Wooden Award as National Player of the Year. He’ll be the top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

The Blue Devils eye the season sweep as they won 63-56 at Wake Forest on Jan. 25 as 11.5-point favorites. Flagg finished the game with 24 points (15 in the second half) and was joined in double-figures by Kon Knueppel and Mason Gillis, who scored 15 and 11, respectively. Both Knueppel and Gillis connected on three three-pointers, and Gillis’s third three-pointer, from deep in the corner with less than a minute remaining, gave Duke a seven-point cushion to clinch it.

Duke leads the all-time series 181-81.

Deacons off Important Win

Wake Forest could not afford to lose at home to Notre Dame on Saturday and realistically hope for an NCAA Tournament bid and the Deacons barely avoided disaster in a 74-71 victory to snap a two-game skid despite trailing most of the way. The Demon Deacons made all 19 of their free-throw attempts. Notre Dame had three 3-point attempts in the final seconds but couldn’t connect.

Senior guard Cameron Hildreth put together a huge showing on the offensive end, finishing with a team-high 28 points. The England native shot 10-for-14 from the floor while also grabbing six rebounds and logging three steals. Hildreth has scored 20-plus points 10 times in ACC play. Senior guard Hunter Sallis made big plays down the stretch to total 17 points for the contest. He also added four rebounds and two blocks to his line.

“We don’t make a lot of threes, so we have to get points in different ways off of turnovers and free throws,” Coach Steve Forbes said. “In the first half, we only got two free throws, but then went 17-for-17 in the second half by being aggressive at the rim. We did a better job of spacing to get Cameron (Hildreth) and Hunter (Sallis) opportunities in there. We were only 7-for-15 at the rim in the first half but then 11-for-18 in the second.”

This marks only the eighth time Wake Forest has won 12 or more ACC games in a single season, and the second time in four seasons. Overall, the Deacs have claimed 46 ACC regular season victories since the 2021-22 campaign, tied for the most over a four-year span in program history.

Home Finale for Cooper Flagg

This will mark the home finale for Duke superstar freshman Cooper Flagg among some others as the Blue Devils then close the regular season on Saturday at bitter rival North Carolina. The only real way Wake Forest probably pulls the upset here is if the Dukies are looking ahead to UNC.

Duke won its sixth game in a row Saturday, 100-65 over visiting Florida State. The Blue Devils scored 100 points for the fourth time this season and the third time in the last five games. In Duke’s last five outings, the Blue Devils are averaging 98.6 points per contest, while limiting opponents to 64.8 points per game (+33.8). Duke’s four 100-point showings are the most in a season since the 2009-10 club also reached the century mark four times.

The Blue Devils have scored 100 points or more 201 times in program history, with an overall record of 195-6, including a 139-1 standard at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Duke won the rebounding battle, 49-32, and has finished with a positive margin on the glass in all but seven games this season. Flagg scored 16 points, including 12 after intermission, to go with six rebounds and four assists in just 20 minutes of play. He did take a shot to the eye and might have a bruise, but is fine.

“Our medical team did a great job. Our eye doctor who handles everything with the team was here. Saw him right away. And fortunately, it wasn’t anything with his eye itself. It was his eyelid. You know, he got bruised, basically,” coach Jon Scheyer said.

The 17 conference wins are the most ever by Duke, and coul be favored in the NCAA betting odds. The Blue Devils had previously reached 16 ACC victories in a single season twice, in 2021-22 (16-4) and 1998-99 (16-0).

Wake Forest at Duke Game Trends

• Wake Forest are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games.
• Deacons are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games against Duke.
• Wake Forest are 3-17 SU in their last 20 games against Duke.
• Deacons are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games on the road.
• Wake Forest 0-10 SU in their last 10 games when playing on the road against Duke.
• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Wake Forest’s last 6 games played in March.
• Duke are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games.
• Blue Devils are 16-0 SU in their last 16 games at home.
• Duke are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games played in March.
• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Duke’s last 5 games.

Wake Forest at Duke NCAA betting Odds & Expert Prediction

Six of the Deacs’ 12 ACC victories have come on the road this season, as Wake Forest has traveled to Syracuse, Miami, Virginia Tech, Stanford, Cal and SMU and won. The six ACC road victories are tied for the most in program history, alongside the 1996-97 team.

While the Blue Devils’ Flagg should be fine to play Monday, Duke may be without guard Tyrese Proctor again. He missed Saturday’s win with a bone bruise, and Proctor doesn’t have a timetable for his return. Just no reason to rush him back before the ACC Tournament.

With Proctor out vs. FSU, Isaiah Evans earned the first start of his career and scored a career-high 19 points to lead the team. Evans made four three-pointers, his fourth consecutive game with at least three made three-point field goals. When Evans makes at least three triples, Duke is 9-0 this season. Saturday marked the third time in Duke’s last four contests that Evans led the team in scoring.

Duke has won nine ACC games by 25 points or more, a school record. It’s also the most in ACC history. They’ve also won five straight games by 15 points or more, tying a school record. And they’ve won three straight by 35 points or more, tying yet another school record. As a team in ACC play, Duke ranks No. 1 in points per game (84.1) and points allowed per game (62.5). Duke 79, Wake Forest 66.

THESE BLUE DEVILS ARE ON FIRE 🔥😈 @DukeMBB pic.twitter.com/rY8YI9UPpC

— ACC Network (@accnetwork) March 2, 2025

MyBookie College Basketball

---

College Basketball Odds | Online Betting

mybookie App Download App

Download Remind me later