Kansas vs. Duke, Prediction, Preview, Odds and Pick, Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Use Code SSWC We head back to New York City for another Champions Classic matchup in this Kansas vs. Duke prediction. No. 24 Kansas (3-1) has just one loss, and it came against another blue blood (North Carolina). No. 5 Duke (4-0) is undefeated to start the season, but this will be their biggest challenge since their opening win over Texas (75-60) as a 10.5-point favorite. Kansas edged the Blue Devils 75-72 as a four-point dog in Kansas City. We have more big selections in college basketball and college football on Stat Salt.
KU rolls without young star
Kansas bounced back from its loss to North Carolina on Nov. 7 with wins over Texas A&M CC (77-46) on Nov. 11 and their last victory came on Nov. 15 with a 76-57 win over Princeton (-22.5). Sophomore Flory Bidunga led the Jayhawks with a career-high 25 points, while making 10 of 11 shots. Kansas held the Tigers to just 31% shooting and outrebounded them by 14.
The good news was that KU could win without arguably its most talented player, Daryn Peterson. The 6-6 potential top draft pick is dealing with a hamstring injury that is going to keep him out for some time. Peterson played most of the game against UNC and scored 22 points on 8-of-14 from the field. Bidunga (6-10, 235) is a sophomore who averages 17 points and 7.8 rebounds per game with 2.5 blocks. Tre White (6-7, 215) adds 12 points and 4.2 rebounds on 60.9% shooting. Kansas is ranked 26th on KenPom, 55th in Adjusted Offensive Rating and 11th in Adjusted Defense.
Key Injury Report for Kansas:
- G Daryn Peterson (hamstring) is expected to miss this game, but is listed as questionable. Averages 21.4 points in two games.
Duke is young and talented
Not many teams can lose Cooper Flagg, Kon Kneuppel and 7-1 Khaman Maluach and still be a top-five team, but here we are. The Blue Devils are coming off a 100-62 win over Indiana State, covering the 37. Superstar freshman Cameron Boozer led Duke with 35 points, 12 rebounds, five steals, and three blocks. Caleb Foster added 14 points and four boards. Boozer was 13 of 16 from the field, and his 35 points were the second most for a freshman in Duke history.
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Boozer (6-9, 250) averages 22.5 points and 10.5 rebounds to lead the team. Sophomore center Patrick Ngongba adds 11.3 points and 7.0 rebounds. Duke is averaging 96 points per game and shooting 50.4% from the field. They allow 58.8 points (11th) and teams shoot just 32.3% (4th) from the field and 24.4% (21st) from long range against them. KenPom has Duke ranked first overall, 6th in Adjusted Offense, and 9th in Adjusted Defense.
Key Injuries for Duke:
No key injuries
Spread Pick for Kansas vs. Duke
Duke vs. Kansas Prediction for Duke vs. Kansas
- Kansas +10.5 (4 units)
Peterson is likely to be out, but they have loads of talent without him. Kansas lost to North Carolina, but that was on the road, and this is a neutral site. Duke beat Texas, but the Longhorns are basically rebuilding with a new team and coaching staff. Duke is very talented, but they are overvalued as always. They should win this game, but covering the big number is going to be tough. Kansas has some big bodies to lay on Ngongba and Boozer in Bidunga (6-10, 235), Bryson Tiller (6-11, 240) and Paul Mbiya (7-0, 245).
- Under 150.5 (4 units)
Both teams have gone under in three of their four games. Because of their size, Kansas is methodical, ranking 229th in Adjusted Tempo. Duke is 213 so both teams want to play halfcourt and the Jayhawks will likely play an even slower tempo without the athletic Peterson.
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