James Madison vs. Duke Odds, Predictions: March Madness Second Round Matchup

The NCAA Tournament is on to the second round, and we have a great matchup as the No. 4 Duke Blue Devils will take on the No. 12 James Madison Dukes. Here, we will break down the James Madison vs. Duke odds, predictions, and best bets.

After a little scare, Duke was able to hold off No. 13 Vermont for a 64-47 victory. Meanwhile, James Madison dominated No. 5 Wisconsin from the jump and won its first March Madness game since 2013.

Oddsmakers have listed Duke as a () point favorite. Let’s preview this 2024 NCAA Tournament second-round action and give out our best James Madison vs. Duke betting pick.

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James Madison vs. Duke Odds: Spread, Moneyline, Total

Check out our top-rated sports betting apps before betting on the James Madison vs. Duke odds. This will ensure you get the best odds and lines for your wagers this March Madness.

James Madison Betting Preview

Heading into the tournament, it seemed like James Madison was the most popular choice to pull off a famous 12 over 5 seed upset. Well, they did it convincingly and were the only 12 seed to do it this year.

Outside of a little run in the second half, Wisconsin had no chance of beating the Dukes. They led by at least six points for the entire second half by grabbing rebounds, hitting free throws, and scoring in transition, something that gets taken for granted a lot during March.

James Madison’s largest lead was 17, and the Badgers did not even come close to reducing it. James Madison’s suffocating defense dominated the first half, and Wisconsin was lucky to hit the rim on some of its shots.

While James Madison did not play all that well themselves, they hit enough shots to keep Wisconsin from coming back. In this round, they will have a much more formidable challenge against Duke. The Blue Devils rank seventh in KenPom’s Adjusted Offensive Efficiency rating and 22nd in Defensive Efficiency Rating. 

Still, the Dukes can score in bunches and rank in the top 40 defensively in shooting efficiency, eFG%, and three-point shooting percentage. 

Duke Betting Preview

Did we expect to see anyone but Duke in this spot? 

The Blue Devils showed a little vulnerability in the first 10 minutes against Vermont. However, the natural skill advantage eventually took over, and Duke was able to build a big enough lead that the Catamounts could not overcome.

Heading into this matchup, there was a slight worry that Duke’s inefficiencies at defending the three-point line could cause trouble. Instead, they held Vermont to just 5-20 shooting from deep. While they sometimes had difficulty defending the paint, that should not be a fatal problem against James Madison. 

Although Duke is not the most prolific paint-scoring team, James Madison does not have much interior strength outside of TJ Bickerstaff. This is a spot where Kyle Filipowski can take advantage of his size and try to punish the Dukes down low or kick it out. 

James Madison plays extremely aggressive defenses. They allow many free throw attempts as a result, and getting into foul trouble when depth is your biggest tool can be catastrophic. 

They should win this game if Duke continues hitting shots and bullying teams inside.

James Madison vs. Duke Betting Trends

James Madison Dukes

• The total has gone OVER in five of James Madison’s last seven games. 
• James Madison is 10-0 SU in its last 10 games. 
• James Madison is 19-13-1 ATS this season. 

Duke Blue Devils 

• Duke is 9-3 ATS in its last 12 games. 
• The total has gone OVER in five of Duke’s last six games. 
• Duke is 19-13-1 ATS this season. 

More NCAAB News: Duke March Madness Odds | NCAAB Odds | Odds to Reach Final Four

James Madison vs. Duke Predictions & Betting Pick

This feels like a spot to back Duke, as they have everything a team needs to defeat James Madison. However, with the Dukes catching seven points at opening, it is hard to pass on the upside of the Sun Belt Champions. 

Aggressiveness will be the key to a James Madison victory. They should make this a good game if they can force some turnovers, score on the fastbreak, and hold Duke from hitting some threes. It also helps that Duke is playing on more tired legs, as they only had 19 bench minutes against Vermont. 

This will be the most talent James Madison has seen on one team this season. However, the oddsmakers are giving them too many points to pass up. Take the Dukes to cover. 

James Madison vs. Duke Best Bet: James Madison (+7.5 at the time of publish)

James Madison vs. Duke Injury Report

North Carolina Sports Betting

North Carolina sports betting is live. Now is the perfect time to sign up for each online sportsbook and place your bets on March Madness odds. Signing up also opens you up to all the top North Carolina sportsbook promos, which should help build your bankroll for March Madness. 

If you are looking to bet on the home-state Duke Blue Devils or a Tar Heel fan looking to place a bet against your arch-enemy, consider one of the sportsbooks listed below.