Duke vs Presbyterian College Basketball Pick

Monday, 10 November 2008

Duke vs Presbyterian College Basketball Pick Duke vs. Presbyterian College Basketball Pick: Surprise! Just in case it slipped up on you while all caught up in the college football thing; the NCAA basketball season starts today. In case all you gamblers were caught with your pants down, don't worry. Point-Spreads.com is on top of things as usual. Thats right..the college hoops season begins today with the tip-off of the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer in the Durham Regional at Cameron Indoor Stadium on the Duke University campus in Durham, N.C.

The tournament begins at 4:05 pm. ET when Houston, of C-USA tips off with Georgia Southern followed by No. 5 Duke and Presbyterian at 7:00 pm.

For the opener, oddsmakers at online sportsbook BetUS.com list Houston as 7 ½- point ATS and -350 moneyline favorites with a 153 ½ total. Georgia Southern backers are getting +290 money line juice.

In the nightcap Duke is a 37-point favorite in its game with Presbyterian with a 139 ½ total. Moneyline odds are not available for this game.

The Cougars return eight lettermen but only one starter, junior guard Kevin Lewis, from last season's team which finished with a 24-10 record and advanced to the semifinals of the inaugural 2008 College Basketball Invitational.

The Blue Devils feature depth in the backcourt and frontcourt. Gerald Henderson, Nolan Smith, and Jon Scheyer give the starting backcourt a blend of experience, shooting and quickness, with Greg Paulus, Elliott Williams, Martynas Pocius and Jordan Davidson supplying defensive prowess and shooting touch off the bench. The frontcourt features Kyle Singler and Miles Plumlee earning the starting spots. The Blue Devils are coming off a 28-6 season with a 13-3 conference record. Presbyterian ended last season with a 5-25 record in their first year in Division I. The two schools are meeting for the first time as Duke tries to win its 60th consecutive non-conference home game.

Last season Duke averaged 83.2 points per game while allowing 69.4. Presbyterian scored 59.6 points per game last season, allowing 66.2 with opponents shooting just under 50 percent against them.

The two winning teams will play Tuesday night at 9:00 p.m. with the winner of the regional champion advancing to the semifinals in Madison Square Garden on Nov. 20. The championship game of the event is scheduled for the following day. Michigan, Southern Illinois and UCLA are also hosting regional games in the tournament. Today's games will be televised by ESPNU.

Point-Spreads.com resident handicapper Reno Gold is thrilled to get the college hoops season started and is offering one great pick for today's lineup. Reno Gold, known as the “Profit of College Sports” is a two-time online handicapping champion. He makes it his business to make reliable picks so subscribers will continue to come back for more. Get Reno's pick for today's Duke vs. Presbyterian game today.