Georgia Tech Basketball vs Duke: Preview and Prediction

Can Georgia Tech take down Duke for a second time tomorrow?

Can Georgia Tech do it twice in one season? 

The Yellow Jackets are the only ACC team this season that has beaten the Duke Blue Devils and they are also the last team that has beaten Duke. The problem is Georgia Tech has been unable to capitalize on that momentum and has lost four in a row leading into this matchup. 

Georgia Tech blew a 16-point lead to Boston College last Saturday and then could not score in overtime against Notre Dame on Tuesday in Atlanta. It has been a tough couple of weeks for Damon Stoudamire in Atlanta, but he can erase all of that with another win vs Duke. 

Duke has won 16 of the last 18 games in the series. The Yellow Jackets earned an 81-77 overtime victory on March 3 2021 in Atlanta, snapping a 14-game losing streak in the series that dated back to 2010.

Tech has swept the Blue Devils only twice in the team’s ACC history, in the 1986-87 season and again in 1995-96. Duke leads the overall series 77-25 and is 65-21 against Tech since the Jackets joined the ACC.

Baye Ndongo vs Duke / Georgia Tech Athletics

Miles Kelly’s 25 points against Notre Dame were his most since the first two games of the season when he tallied 25 against Georgia Southern and 27 against Howard. Kelly was going through some shooting struggles but has been finding his rhythm these last couple of games. 

Kelly has scored 20 or more points in six of his last 11 ACC games and has averaged 19.9 points across those 11 games, hitting 47.2 percent of his field goal tries and 43.9 of his three-point attempts.

Tech has outrebounded 10 of 15 opponents and tied one this season after Notre Dame outrebounded the Jackets 48-33 Tuesday night. Tech entered the game with a plus-5.9 rebounding margin and ranked No. 3 in the ACC, and No. 67 nationally. Can Georgia Tech outrebound Duke and big man Kyle Filipowski? Maybe, but it is not going to be easy. 

Tech has not defeated Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium since March of 2004 and is 5-38 in the building all-time. The Jackets have not swept the Blue Devils in a season series since the 1995-96 season and only twice in Tech’s ACC history.

Prediction

Cameron Indoor is a nightmare place to play and given how the Yellow Jackets have looked lately and not been able to finish games, it is hard to pick them to go on the road and beat the Blue Devils. Duke seems to be hitting their stride right now and are arguably the ACC's most talented team. I have been wrong plenty, but I think Duke wins at home tomorrow. 

Final Score: Duke 79, Georgia Tech 67

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