Duquesne vs. BYU Picks, Odds, Starting Lineups for the 2024 March Madness Round of 64
Duquesne vs. BYU Picks, Odds, Starting Lineups for the 2024 March Madness Round of 64
Round 1 of March Madness tips off at CHI Health Center Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska, on Thursday afternoon.
Duquesne and BYU are among the first games to start the 2024 March Madness tournament, with the Dukes entering as a bona fide underdog with moneyline odds available at +365 on FanDuel Sportsbook. Duquesne is the 11-seed and will face the 6-seeded BYU Cougars in the East Region.
BYU was bounced from the Big 12 Conference tournament after a 14-point loss to Texas Tech, while Duquesne enters this game red-hot after winning the A-10 with a 57-51 victory over VCU. The Dukes have rattled off eight consecutive wins and rely on their defense, which will have a big test against BYU's offense, a unit that averages 81.8 points per game.
Here's the latest odds for Duquesne vs. BYU, plus starting lineups, which we'll use to target best bets during this Round 1 matchup that starts Thursday afternoon.
DUQUESNE VS. BYU START TIME, WHERE TO WATCH, AND ODDS
- Date: Thursday, March 21, 2024
- Start Time: 12:40 p.m. ET
- Where to Watch: truTV
Click here for Duquesne vs. BYU odds
DUQUESNE VS. BYU ODDS AND BETTING DATA
| TEAM | SPREAD | MONEYLINE | IMPLIED CHANCE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duquesne | +9.5 (-110) | +365 | 21.51% |
| BYU | -9.5 (-110) | -490 | 83.05% |
Oddsmakers are laying -9.5 on the point spread with BYU, which makes it tempting to wager Duquesne. The Cougars' offense experienced fits against Texas Tech, who allow 69.3 point per game, compared to just 66.0 points per game by the Dukes.
With over an 80 percent implied chance of winning outright, BYU's defense isn't anything to scoff at either, holding opponents just under 70 points per game this season. There's no doubt that the Cougars are a better scoring team than the Dukes, averaging 46.2 percent from the field, including 34.8 percent from three-point range.
Duquesne's defense is the key variable for whether or not this game gets blown wide open by BYU's talented scorers. Meanwhile, the Cougars' ability to defend gives them multiple avenues to succeed on the hardwood.
DUQUESNE VS. BYU PREDICTION
Due to their recent struggles against Texas Tech, who isn't nearly as impactful defensively compared to Duquesne, the Dukes should be able to keep this game tight enough to cover +9.5 on the point spread. After all, four of the Cougars' past six wins have been by less than 10 points.
BYU's ability to shoot three-pointers, averaging over 11 per game, while converting over 73 percent of free throw attempts, versus 71 percent for Duquesne, will be big reasons for the Cougars separating themselves from the Dukes. Duquesne's offense has been better lately, but BYU isn't a push over on defense, meaning the Dukes have to earn every shot.
If Duquesne continues to play smart, controlling the pace and playing their brand of stout defense, the Dukes should be able to cover +9.5 on the point spread. They dispatched of No. 25-ranked Dayton in the A-10 tournament and have jumped out to an early lead in six straight games.
Even with a late meltdown, if buckets don't fall, the Dukes can rely on their defense and confidence gained from their eight-game winning streak to lose by nine points or less against BYU.
Duquesne vs. BYU Prediction: Duquesne +9.5 (-110) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
DUQUESNE VS. BYU PROJECTED LINEUPS
Duquesne projected lineup:
- G Dae Dae Grant
- G Jimmy Clark
- G Jake DiMichele
- F Fousseyni Drame
- F Dussan Mahoric
BYU projected lineup:
- G Dallin Hall
- F Aly Khalifa
- G Spencer Johnson
- F Noah Waterman
- G Trevin Knell
DUQUESNE MARCH MADNESS ODDS
Duquesne is one of 15 teams with +100000 odds in the National Championship outright winner market. The Dukes' air-tight defense may force an upset in Round 1, or at least keep things interesting, but investing in their 1000:1 odds is a pipe dream, especially shooting under 44 percent from the field.
BYU MARCH MADNESS ODDS
Oddsmakers are giving BYU a much more realistic chance to contend for a National Championship title compared to Duquesne. The Cougars are +6000 in the National Championship futures market, as they can lean on an offense ranked inside the top 30 in scoring average, plus a good defense, to advance to the Sweet 16. However, BYU hasn't won six consecutive games since the beginning of the regular season, so a 0.10 unit wager suffices.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL ODDS
Matt is an avid writer, editor, and researcher. He enjoys analyzing the game within the game which is fantasy sports and sports betting. Music is another constant in his daily life. Matt loves spending time with his wife and three pets. He likes to read, listen to podcasts, and is constantly motivated to create the most accurate and engaging content in the sports betting industry.