#1 Duke vs. #2 UConn Picks and Predictions: Elite Eight
Written by: Nate Hornung
Published: Sat Mar 28, 2026, 3:18 pm ET
Read Time: 5 minutes
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Dan Hurley and the UConn Huskies are back in the Elite Eight for the third time in four years. After failing to make the second weekend of the tournament the first two times he brought the Huskies there, Hurley led them to back to back National Championships. However, after a Round of 32 exit last year, they have a shot at going to a third Final Four in just four seasons. But the No. 1 overall Duke Blue Devils stand in their way in this East Regional Final. Check out our expert picks below to find out how they are wagering on this matchup.
Check out our March Madness Betting Guide to get in on all the action this month!
Best Bet: UConn 1H +2.5 (-111) Lucky Rebel Sportsbook
Go check out what else I've got on my daily card, and view the latest odds at the best online sportsbooks.
#1 Duke Blue Devils vs. #2 UConn Huskies NCAA Basketball Insights
Do we trust Duke to hang with Hurley's Huskies for the first 20 minutes of the game?
Both of these teams played in weaker conferences this season. The ACC and the Big East were not the leagues we've seen in the past. There simply wasn't solid competition for either of these teams. Yet both were battle tested plenty during the non conference part of their schedule. But who will win in this game?
Duke looked complete against the Johnnies with Caleb Foster back on the court, and they clearly missed his veteran presence. But UConn has plenty of experience as well, as they have Alex Karaban, who is third all time for most NCAA Tournament victories in his collegiate career. Can he lead the Huskies to another win, sending them to Indianapolis for the Final Four?
Matchup Information – Duke vs. UConn – March 29
- Venue & Location: Capital One Arena (Washington, D.C.)
- Date: Sunday, March 29, 2026
- Tip Off: 5:05 p.m. Eastern
- Broadcast: CBS
Duke vs. UConn Betting Odds
Odds are courtesy of Lucky Rebel, one of our favorite online sportsbooks, as of March 28, 2026 at 2:54 p.m. eastern. Sign up today with and get a $1,250 deposit bonus, as well as 50 slot spins immediately. Lucky Rebel Sportsbook offers a wide variety of unique markets across nearly every sport imaginable.
Spread
- UConn +5 (-112)
- Duke -5 (-108)
Moneyline
- UConn +180
- Duke -225
Total
- Over 133.5 (-113)
- Under 133.5 (-107)
#1 Duke vs. #2 UConn NCAA Basketball Picks and Predictions
Tarris Reed is a beast on the blocks for the Huskies
Duke vs. UConn Prediction: UConn Wins Outright, Over 133.5
Best Bet: UConn 1H +2.5 (-111) Lucky Rebel Sportsbook
We are taking the same approach that we cashed with St. John's in the Sweet 16. Fade the Dukies during the first 20 minutes. It's no secret that they've started out slow, not just in the tournament, but during the entire season as well. They've played with their food. Sure, Jon Scheyer has made the second half adjustments, and they've successfully dug themselves out of a hole plenty this year. But doing so against UConn is going to be a huge ask.
They were losing by double digits to Siena at the break. TCU covered the first half spread, and the Johnnies also led at halftime after a last second three. Once again, we are just asking Duke's opponent to start out hot. Who cares how they finish?
The Huskies were red hot against the Spartans in the first half before letting them crawl back into the game. I see Hurley being very aggressive early on, trying to build a substantial lead before Duke inevitably makes a push in the second half. As you can see, I think UConn does win this game outright, but I'll only put my money on them doing so for the first 20 minutes. Yes, we have sprinkled on the first half moneyline as well (with push potential), but the Huskies at least covering the 2.5 for us is a no brainer for me.
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Check Out the Other March Madness Content from Betting News
For college basketball bettors, March Madness is the most wonderful time of the year. And at Betting News, we have you covered for this festively fun season with expert picks throughout the tournament from Nate Hornung and Eddie Griffin, consensus picks for every March Madness game from the First Four to the Final Four, a rundown of the best March Madness betting sites, and more.
Also, through our streams and social media channels, you can get even more insight from Nate and other members of the Betting News team, as well as offer your own thoughts and tips for the tournament.
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Nate has been a recreational sports bettor for about 5 years. In that time, he has grown to love the pursuit of winners and sticking it to The Man. Nate loves data and uses his understanding of numbers to help him be a more profitable sports gambler, however he will be the first to tell you this game is about more than just stats.
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