Kansas vs. Duke Odds, Preview, Picks, and Prediction for Tuesday, November 18, 2025
On Tuesday, the Kansas Jayhawks will face the Duke Blue Devils in the Champions Classic, a key non-conference matchup between two of the nation's top college basketball teams. We have you ready to go with our Kansas vs. Duke prediction, odds, and preview. Tip-off from Madison Square Garden in New York, NY, is at 9:00 p.m. ET.
Duke is a ten-point spread favorite, and the game total is 152 points scored.
KU is 3-1 and Duke is 4-0 this season. In their most recent games, the Jayhawks beat Princeton 76-57, failing to cover as 22.5-point favorites, and the Blue Devils defeated Indiana State 100-62, covering the spread as 37-point favorites. Tuesday's matchup is the eighth between Kansas and Duke since 2011 (KU leads 5-2 SU/4-3 ATS). These teams played last season in Las Vegas, a game the Jayhawks won 75-72. They have won two straight and five of their last six games against the Blue Devils, but Duke leads the all-time series 8-7.
If you want the Kansas vs. Duke prediction, read on to get our top NCAAB predictions and increase your bankroll!
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Jayhawks will play without star guard Peterson
Kansas (3-1 SU, 2-2 ATS, and 1-3 O/U) bounced back from its road loss to North Carolina with consecutive wins over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Princeton. In Saturday's victory, KU held the Tigers to 31 percent shooting and just 12 points in the paint. The Jayhawks won the rebounding battle (+12 margin), hit 21 free throws, and scored 40 at the rim. Kansas scores 80.3 points per game (247th) on 50.7 percent shooting (44th), and its opponents average 60.3 points (15th) on 36.4 percent shooting (32nd).
The Jayhawks were 21-13 last season, finishing sixth in the Big 12 standings with an 11-9 record. They lost to Arizona in the quarterfinals of the conference tourney and to Arkansas in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. KU is led by 23rd-year head coach Bill Self (610-157 record) and was picked to finish sixth in the Big 12 preseason poll. After much transition this past offseason, it will be interesting to see how the 2025-26 team fares.
Kansas lost significant production from last season's team, most notably point guard Dajuan Harris Jr. and center Hunter Dickinson. Talented guards Rylan Griffen and Zeke Mayo are also gone, forcing Sell to recruit hard (six incoming frosh) and hit the transfer portal to fill those holes. KU returns six letterwinners, including sophomore forward Flory Bidunga, a defensive presence who averaged 1.6 blocks in limited minutes last season. Unlike Dickinson, he will make opponents think twice about attacking the Jayhawks at the rim. Senior guards Melvin Council Jr. (2.1 SPG last season), a St. Bonaventure transfer, and Jayden Dawson, a portal addition from Loyola-Chicago, are also strong point-of-attack defenders.
True freshman guard Darryn Peterson, a top NBA prospect who scored 22 vs UNC, was expected to lead the Jayhawks, but he will be sidelined for the immediate future with a hamstring injury that has limited him to two games. Without him, senior guard Tre White (Illinois transfer), sophomore guard Elmarko Jackson, and freshman guard Kohl Rosario will be asked to step up. Another player to watch is freshman forward Bryson Tiller, a long, powerful prospect with an inside-out skillset. Kansas is shooting 36.5 percent from deep so far, but time will tell if there are consistent three-point threats on the roster outside of Peterson.
Kansas Jayhawks Basketball Injury Report:
- Peterson (21.5 PPG on 60% shooting) will not play in the Champions Classic versus Duke.
Duke has won by 30-plus in three straight games
Duke (4-0 SU, 4-0 ATS, and 1-3 O/U) handled its business against ISU, scoring 100 points on 54 percent shooting. The Sycamores led by as many as ten points early, but the Blue Devils stormed back to win by 38. They outscored the visitors 54-26 in the paint and added 27 in transition. Duke scores 96.0 points per game (120th) on 50.4 percent shooting (51st), and its opponents average 58.8 points (11th) on 32.3 percent shooting (4th).
Duke went 35-4 last season, winning the ACC regular season title (19-1 record) and conference tournament championship before reaching the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament, where the Blue Devils lost to second-ranked Houston. With one-and-done frosh Cooper Flagg, Kon Kneuppel, and Khaman Maluach off to the NBA, head coach Jon Scheyer reloaded with the nation's top recruiting class, but can they go a step further than last season's squad?
| # | Handicapper | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  David Hess | +1,568.00 |
| 2 |  Ben Burns | +982.00 |
| 3 |  Tony Karpinski | +572.00 |
| 4 |  Joe Duffy | +501.00 |
| 5 |  Ross Benjamin | +328.00 |
The Blue Devils are the favorite to win the ACC in 2025-26, returning six players and welcoming in five freshmen and one college transfer. They return a solid core, with Isaiah Evans, Caleb Foster, Maliq Brown, and Patrick Ngongba II back to complement the team's incoming stars. They didn't lose a single player to the transfer portal, a sigh of relief for Scheyer after he watched five rotation players depart in the spring of 2024. Returnees Evans (13.0 PPG this season) and Foster (9.8 PPG) will man the backcourt after both averaged roughly 14 minutes per game last season. Foster saw less time on the court than he did as a freshman (25 minutes/game with 15 starts), but he will have ample playing time as the Blue Devils' starting point guard. Evans returned for his sophomore season after considering the NBA Draft, giving the team a lengthy three-point threat at shooting guard.
The headliner of this season's Duke squad is undoubtedly five-star freshman forward Cameron Boozer (22.5 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.8 BPG, and 1.8 SPG), who will be in the conversation for the top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The skilled son of former Blue Devil and NBA star Carlos, Boozer has the size, athleticism, and skill set to make an impact from the start. He will be joined in the starting lineup by five-star freshman Nikolas Khamenia or Dame Sarr, an international project from Italy, and the senior center Ngongba, who is averaging 11.3 PPG and 7.0 RPG this season. As for the reserves, the senior glue guy Brown and freshman point guard Cayden Boozer are two names to watch.
| # | Handicapper | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Earle Sports Bets | +2,298.00 |
| 2 | Ross Benjamin | +1,840.00 |
| 3 |  Rob Vincilleti | +1,757.00 |
| 4 | David Hess | +1,745.00 |
| 5 |  Dan Kaiser | +987.00 |
Duke Blue Devils Basketball Injury Report:
No injuries to report for Tuesday's NCAAB game versus Kansas.
Kansas vs. Duke Pick and Preview
Spread Pick for Kansas vs. Duke
- Blue Devils -10 (5 Units)
Several factors point me toward the Blue Devils when considering the ten-point spread.
Duke's length on the wings and strong defensive presence (3rd nationally in defensive efficiency) are among the main reasons. They are a tough matchup for the Jayhawks, who lack consistent three-point threats and prefer to attack the paint (Duke ranks 8th in two-point defense). Council (28.3 3PT% lifetime), White (30.1% lifetime), and Jackson (25.5% lifetime) won't keep Duke accountable, putting pressure on Rosario and Dawson to pick up the slack from long range. White prefers to attack the hoop, and Duke will sag off Council (0‑for‑9 from three and 35.3% from the field this season), clogging up their passing lanes and the paint.
KU has struggled with turnovers (185th in TOs per offensive play), and Duke has forced many (57th in opponent TOs per offensive play). That's something to watch, especially considering Duke takes care of the basketball (55th in TO%), and KU rarely forces them (230th in opponent TO%). Another red flag is the Jayhawks' lack of frontcourt depth. Bidunga and Tiller are rim protectors, but they are the only players 6-foot-7 or taller playing significant minutes. If foul trouble forces them to the bench, Duke will feast inside. I expect the Blue Devils to attack the paint from the opening tip, especially Boozer, forcing Kansas to defend without fouling.
Fans hoping for a close game should find alternate plans. The inexperienced Jayhawks will be overwhelmed in more ways than one on Tuesday at MSG, leading to a comfortable win and cover for the Blue Devils. It was already looking shaky for KU if Peterson suited up, but his injury leaves them without a life raft.
Over/Under Pick for Kansas vs. Duke
- Over 152 (4 Units)
This game will go over the 152-point total, but only by a little. Duke is a higher-tempo team, ranked just outside the top 100 in possessions per game. It will force Kansas into a faster-paced game in this neutral court setting, pushing the total over.
The Jayhawks like to get out in transition, but I doubt they'll get many fast-break opportunities. That said, I do expect the Blue Devils to score 20-plus fast-break points. They will also score at least 40 points in the paint and another 20-plus at the free-throw line. Kansas lacks frontcourt depth and will struggle to defend and box out the hyperactive Boozer around the basket. The frosh has done a fine job drawing fouls (8.5 FT attempts per game) and shoots just under 80 percent at the line. Kansas has held its opponents to a low percentage this season, but that will change on Tuesday in NYC.
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