Duke vs app state basketball prediction

The second-ranked Duke Blue Devils look to continue where they left off when they host the Appalachian State Mountaineers in nonconference action on Thursday. The Blue Devils (8-1), who opened a 33-point halftime lead en route to a 103-62 win over South Carolina State on Tuesday, saw six players reach double-digit scoring in their victory over the Bulldogs. The Mountaineers (6-5), who finished fourth in the Sun Belt Conference East Division at 7-8 and were 17-12 overall in 2020-21, built a 13-point halftime lead before crushing Erskine 69-44 on Monday.

The game from Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C., is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. ET. The Blue Devils are 21.5-point favorites in the latest Appalachian State vs. Duke odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points scored is set at 137.5. Before locking in any Duke vs. Appalachian State picks, make sure you check out the college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated an impressive profit of over $2,400 for $100 players on its top-rated college basketball picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Duke vs. App. State and just locked in its picks and CBB predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are the college basketball odds and betting lines for Incarnate App. State vs. Duke:

• Duke vs. Appalachian State spread: Duke -21.5
• Duke vs. Appalachian State over-under: 137.5 points
• Duke vs. Appalachian State money line: Duke -2800, Appalachian State +1200
• APP: The Mountaineers are 3-0-1 against the spread in their last four games overall
• DUKE: The Blue Devils are 5-0-1 in their last six Thursday games

Featured Game | Duke Blue Devils vs. App. State Mountaineers

Why Duke can cover 

The Blue Devils are led by freshman forward Paolo Banchero, who has been dominant since Day 1. Banchero is averaging 17.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game, and is connecting on 49.5 percent of his shots from the floor as well as hitting 84.1 percent of his foul shots. He has scored in double figures in each game, including a 22-point performance in a season-opening 79-71 win over Kentucky on Nov. 9. He followed that up with his first double-double of his career, an 18-point and 12-rebound performance in an 82-56 win over Army on Nov. 12.

Junior forward Wendell Moore Jr. also has scored in double figures in every game this season, including 11 points in Tuesday's win. For the year, he is averaging 17 points, six rebounds, five assists and 1.8 steals, and is connecting on 56.7 percent of his field goals and 71.9 percent of his free throws. Moore, who was selected second-team Preseason All-ACC, played in all 24 games for the Blue Devils last season, making 18 starts, including in each of the final 15 games. In 2020-21, he was named to the All-ACC Academic Team for the second straight season.

Why Appalachian State can cover

Guard Adrian Delph powers the Mountaineers. The senior is averaging 15.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and one assist per game on 47.4 percent shooting from the floor, including 40.9 percent from beyond the arc. He is also a 79.2 percent free-throw shooter, among the best on the team. Delph has been solid on the road, averaging 16.3 points and 7.3 rebounds. He has reached double-figure scoring in nine games, including the first eight of the year. He poured in a season-high 39 points in a 75-68 loss to Delaware on Nov. 22.

Also a big part of the Mountaineer offense is senior guard Michael Almonacy. He is one of four Appalachian State players averaging at least eight points per game. Almonacy is averaging 9.3 points, three rebounds and 2.5 assists, and is connecting on 35.2 percent of his 3-pointers. He has reached double-figure scoring in four games, including in two of the past three. He scored a season-high 18 points in a 57-45 win over Akron on Nov. 23.

How to make Appalachian State vs. Duke picks

SportsLine's model is leaning over on the total, projecting 145 combined points. It has also generated an against-the-spread pick that cashes in well over 60 percent of simulations. You can only get the model's pick at SportsLine. 

So who wins Duke vs. Appalachian State? And which side of the spread hits in well over 60 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that is up over $2,400 on its college basketball picks the last five years, and find out.