2011 March Madness Free Picks: Hampton Pirates vs Duke Blue Devils on TRU TV – Odds and Predictions -NCAA Basketball Betting 3/18/11:: Guard Darrion Pellum will lead the No. 16 seed Hampton Pirates to the Warner Cable Arena to take on guard Nolan Smith and the Defending Champion No. 1 Seed Duke Blue Devils on Friday afternoon at 3:10 PM ET on TRU TV. The Pirates have won 5 consecutive and enter the game at 24-8 2nd in the MEAC while the Blue Devils have won 3 to win the ACC Tournament and have been in and out of No. 1 in the national year with a 30-4 record and looking to repeat as national champions.
Duke freshman Kyrie Irving will make his return from a toe injury and has not played since the 1st week of December. “He hasn’t played in a long, long time, but he’s the type (of) player, you give him the ball, he’s going to get out there and he’ll help us if he gets on the court,” guard Nolan Smith said. “He’s that good a player.” “It’s even more nerve-racking, just the amount of pressure on Duke and just the aura of the NCAA tournament,” Irving said. “This is a special occasion for me, and I just want to enjoy it with my teammates.” The odds makers at JustBET Sportsbook have the Duke Blue Devils a -23 point favorite in the first round against the Hampton Pirates.
The Blue Devils won the ACC Tournament with a victory 75-58 over North Carolina to move to 18-14 ATS for the season. Smith led the way with 20 points along with 4 rebounds and 10 assists. Forward Kyle Singler added 11 points pulled down 8 boards while Seth Curry also chipped in 11 points with 4 rebounds. Vegas oddsmakers have the Duke Blue Devils +300 to win the 2011 National Championship.
Hampton is coming off a 60-55 victory over Morgan State to move to 7-2 ATS for the season. Guard Brandon Tunnell scored 20 points and pulled down 3 boards and an assist while Pellum added 12 points 2 rebounds and a dime. “It’s a good chance to measure where you are as a program,” Hampton coach Edward Joyner Jr. said of today’s game against powerhouse Duke. The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Duke’s last 9 games. Vegas oddsmakers have the over/under for the total score at 135 points combined of the Hampton Pirates and Duke Blue Devils.
I predict a Duke Victory and Hampton cover!
GAME: No. 16 Hampton (24-8) vs No. 1 Duke (30-4)TIME: 12:40 PM EST
TELEVISION: TRU TV
VEGAS ODDS: Favorite: Duke -23
Total: Over/Under 135
* Vegas Betting Lines at Ceasars Palace
Get ALL of today’s odds on the 2011 NCAA Tourmament LIVE
FREE PICK: Hampton Pirates +23
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