Lipscomb Bisons @ Duke Blue Devils NCAAB 12/16/2025
Two teams riding five-game surges step into Cameron Indoor on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. ET, with the betting spotlight squarely on whether Lipscomb’s balanced offense can keep pace with Duke’s two-way punch. This is a classic nonconference litmus test: an elite talent stack at home in Durham versus a confident mid-major that’s handled business lately and won’t be shy about taking threes early to quiet the crowd. If you’re betting this one, the conversation starts with how Duke under head coach Jon Scheyer has ratcheted up efficiency on both ends over the last two weeks, and whether the Bisons’ recent rhythm travels against ACC length.
Modeling the last-five form gives us two different paths to the number. Duke’s scoring profile has surged while its defense has been stingy, a combo that makes the moneyline a heavy chalk. Lipscomb arrives with a strong recent scoring average and a veteran core—good ingredients for a spread sweep, especially in the first 30 minutes. Pace will dictate the total, but the data suggests a more controlled game than a track meet.
Who will come out on top tonight? Check the NCAA Basketball betting lines and see which teams are trending in the right direction.
Our betting predictions: Lipscomb Bisons @ Duke Blue Devils
Best Bet: Spread pick – Duke -17.5
Our primary betting tip leans on the Spread pick: Duke to cover -17.5 at -115 with Fanatics Sportsbook. Why: Over the last five, Duke is averaging about 81.2 points per game while allowing only about 59.0. That 22-point average margin is hard to ignore, especially with Cameron Indoor behind them. Lipscomb has been excellent recently, averaging roughly 87.2 per game, but that came against a lighter run of defenses. Duke’s length at the wing and point-of-attack pressure tend to wear opponents down after halftime. My model gives Duke a 56–58% chance to cover a -17.5 style number.
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Tip 2: Moneyline – Duke to Win
Our secondary betting tip leans on the Moneyline: Duke to win (at fair line -900 at DraftKings; implied win probability ~90%). Why: The Blue Devils’ recent two-way form, plus home-court advantage, swings this strongly. Lipscomb’s upset probability sits near 10%, largely tied to hot perimeter shooting variance. But across 40 minutes, Duke’s depth, athleticism, and shot creation should separate.
Tip 3: Total – Under 151.5 Total
Our third betting prediction will back the Totals: Under a mid-150s total (projected around 151.5 at -110 with DraftKings). Why: Combine Duke’s defense (about 59.0 allowed over the last five) with Cameron Indoor’s ability to disrupt visiting offenses, and this leans to a game that plays under if Duke’s half-court defense sets the tone. My projection pegs the Under at about 57% given current form.
Team Statistics
Duke Blue Devils — current form snapshot:
- Trend: Five straight wins, including a road triumph at a high-major opponent and multiple decisive home efforts that showcased their depth and defense.
- Last result context: A gritty road win in a low-scoring, possession-by-possession battle highlighted their ability to close late.
- Offense: Over the last five, Duke is averaging about 81.2 points per game. They’ve displayed improved spacing and shot selection, with multiple creators getting into the paint and kicking to shooters.
- Defense: Over the last five, Duke is allowing about 59.0 per game. That’s the real calling card right now. They’ve shut off driving lanes, protected the rim, and contested catch-and-shoot looks.
- Standings angle: In the broad early-season picture, Duke’s form profiles like a top-tier program preparing to peak as conference play approaches—this matchup feels like a tune-up with traps if they lose focus, but their recent game control says they’re locked in.
Lipscomb Bisons — current form snapshot:
- Trend: Also five straight wins, with multiple double-figure victories and strong second-half surges.
- Last result context: A comfortable home decision driven by spacing, ball movement, and interior touches that set up rhythm threes.
- Offense: Over the last five, Lipscomb is averaging about 87.2 points per game, a strong signal that they’ll test Duke’s transition defense and closeouts. They share it, they screen, and they play through the post when matchups allow.
- Defense: Over the last five, the Bisons are allowing about 68.8 per game—solid, but this is a step up in shot-making and athleticism they’ll need to navigate on the road.
- Standings angle: In their league lane, this is the kind of game that sharpens them for conference play and gives their profile a boost. It’s ambitious—exactly the kind of nonconference challenge you want before the calendar flips.
Keyplayer Statistics/Momentum/External Factors
For Duke, Cameron Boozer has flashed late-game scoring pop, and Caleb Foster’s steady guard play fits what Jon Scheyer wants: tempo control and clean decisions. Tyrese Proctor’s two-way presence is a swing factor—when he’s healthy and assertive, Duke’s offense looks layered. For Lipscomb, center Grant Asman brings rim protection and inside scoring punches, while guard Mateo Esmeraldo’s creation and defensive hands can tilt a few possessions. External factors: Cameron Indoor’s energy, travel for Lipscomb, and a potential early rust spot for Duke coming off an academic break are all in play. If Lipscomb hits from deep early, this spreads drama to the middle eight of the second half; if Duke dictates tempo, the crowd amplifies every stop.
Last direct match
No recent head-to-head meeting info available on record.
Performance last 5 Matches
Both teams are 5-0 in their last five—the matchup brings dueling hot streaks.
TrustnBet Final Thoughts
Our three angles lean in the same direction but arrive there for different reasons. The spread pick on Duke is powered by the two-way differential: about 81.2 scored versus 59.0 allowed over the last five is a serious gap, and at home, that typically translates. On the moneyline, Duke’s depth and defense push the win probability toward 90%, while Lipscomb’s path is a hot-shooting outlier. For the total, the Under is the value play: Lipscomb’s offense is legit, but Duke’s ability to force half-court possessions and limit clean catch-and-shoots should cap the overall scoring tempo. The pick: Duke to cover a mid-to-high teens spread, Duke on the moneyline, and Under a mid-150s total.
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