Saturday brings a heated ACC matchup to Blacksburg as two conference rivals meet at Cassell Coliseum. The No. 4 Duke Blue Devils (19-1) head to hostile territory looking to make a statement against the Virginia Tech Hokies (16-6) in a critical mid-season test.
Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. ET on ESPN in a matchup built on coaching adjustments and perimeter play. With tournament positioning starting to take shape, both teams need this résumé-building win in what could be a physical, high-energy contest.
Below, we’ll break down our Duke vs. Virginia Tech prediction and picks for Saturday’s game. Make your college basketball picks on PrizePicks and PrizePicks Team Picks and earn real money if you’re right, including on game winners, spreads, and totals.
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Duke vs. Virginia Tech Prediction, Spread, Over/Under
In his seventh season, head coach Mike Young has turned Virginia Tech into a tough, defense-first team that thrives in grind-it-out games. The Hokies lean on perimeter toughness and half-court execution, consistently disrupting opponents’ offensive rhythm.
Duke’s balanced attack presents a formidable test. The Blue Devils’ versatility, from high-volume 3-point shooting to aggressive interior play, should force the Hokies into uncomfortable rotations and constant adjustments.
Saturday marks another critical matchup in an increasingly crowded ACC race. Duke has dominated the all-time series against Virginia Tech (54-13), but the Hokies have shown they can compete with the ACC's elite when executing their defensive blueprint.
With both teams jockeying for seeding, this showdown could carry real March implications.
Duke vs. Virginia Tech Over/Under, Spread
Duke enters Friday’s game as 13.5-point road favorites, returning a 1.08x payout on PrizePicks Team Picks if they win outright.
Virginia Tech is a home underdog with a 6.25x payout if they win, via PrizePicks Team Picks.
- Spread: Duke Blue Devils -13.5
- Over/Under: 149.5
- Game Winner Payout: Duke 1.08x | Virginia Tech 6.25x
Team Picks data is live at the time of writing and is subject to change.
Duke vs. Virginia Tech Prediction on Spread
- Duke's explosive offense ranks among the nation's elite, averaging 85.6 PPG while shooting 56.4% from the field.
- The Blue Devils excel in turnover margin (+2.3 per game) and rank fourth nationally in defensive efficiency (0.906), holding opponents to 64.6 PPG with lockdown perimeter pressure.
- Virginia Tech's methodical offense (81.0 PPG) relies on half-court execution and disciplined shot selection.
- The Hokies rank among the ACC’s best in
3-point defense (29.7% allowed) and force opponents into difficult midrange looks, disrupting offensive rhythm. - Duke holds a 12-8-0 against-the-spread record, while Virginia Tech sits at 12-10-0 ATS. The Blue Devils have covered in two of their last three meetings.
- In Saturday’s showdown, Duke ranks No. 3 in KenPom rankings, while Virginia Tech checks in at No. 55.
Duke vs. Virginia Tech Picks for PrizePicks Today: Saturday, January 31
Here are the top two Duke vs. Virginia Tech picks to target for Saturday, January 31 on PrizePicks. Player stat projections via PrizePicks are headlined by F Cameron Boozer and G Ben Hammond.
Duke F Cameron Boozer vs. Virginia Tech Projection: 32.5 Pts + Rebs
- Boozer recorded 10 double-doubles through 20 games while averaging 23.5 points and 9.9 rebounds, exceeding this 32.5 projection in 13 of his last 15 contests.
- The freshman phenom ranks 32nd in offensive rebounding rate (3.35 per game) with an elite 18.2% total rebounding rate, while Duke has out-rebounded opponents in 16 of 20 games.
- Virginia Tech's interior defense ranks 161st in opponent points per game (74.1 PPG) and recently surrendered 36 points in the paint to Louisville.
- Duke demolished Virginia Tech 88-65 in their most recent meeting in 2024, as the Blue Devils dominated the paint 42-10.
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Virginia Tech G Ben Hammond vs. Duke Projection: 14.5 Points
- Hammond averages 17.0 PPG in ACC play while averaging 16.8 points over his last 10 contests, scoring in double figures in nine of those outings.
- The sophomore guard enters Saturday’s contest fresh off a 20-point performance on 6-for-12 shooting from the floor (50%) and 5-5 from the charity stripe. He has shot 53.3% from 3-point range (16-of-30) in his last five ACC games.
- Virginia Tech boasts a 12-1 home record at Cassell Coliseum, where Hammond thrives in front of the home crowd.
- Hammond attempts 6.3 free throws per game in ACC play (18 total against UVA alone) and converts 86.0% of tries at the line, giving him multiple scoring avenues beyond his improved perimeter shooting (16 3-pointers in nine conference games).
Make #4 Duke vs. Virginia Tech Picks on PrizePicks
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