NCAAB January 24, 2026

Cameron Indoor Stadium hosts its first marquee ACC matchup of the weekend as Steve Forbes brings his Wake Forest Demon Deacons into Durham to face Jon Scheyer's #5 Duke Blue Devils. This is the kind of game that separates genuine national title contenders from pretenders, and Duke has been making a very strong case for the former all season long. The Blue Devils enter at 17-1 with a perfect 6-0 record in ACC play, and they haven't lost a single game at Cameron Indoor Stadium since the 2023-24 season. That home court dominance isn't a coincidence; it's the result of elite talent, suffocating defense, and the most hostile environment in college basketball.

Here's what makes Duke so terrifying for Wake Forest: Cameron Boozer is averaging 23.2 points and 9.9 rebounds per game while shooting 58.6% from the floor. That kind of production from a player with his size and skill set is nearly impossible to contain. The Blue Devils rank second in the NET rankings and have already accumulated eight Quad 1 victories, which is remarkable for a team this early in conference play. Duke's defensive efficiency has been outstanding, and they're holding opponents to under 37% shooting in their recent games against Cal and Stanford during their West Coast trip.

Wake Forest's Uphill Battle Against Blue Blood Dominance

The Demon Deacons come into Durham with an 11-8 record and a 2-4 mark in ACC play, which tells you just about everything you need to know about the talent gap in this matchup. Wake Forest's two conference wins have come against Virginia Tech (81-78) and Florida State (69-68), both decided by narrow margins against the league's struggling programs. When the Deacs stepped up in class against SMU in their last game, they got run off the floor 91-79. That kind of performance heading into Cameron Indoor is concerning.

J. Harris leads Wake Forest with 20.5 points per game, shooting 46.2% from the field. He's talented enough to keep the Deacs in games against inferior competition, but matching up against Duke's length and athleticism presents a different challenge entirely. The Blue Devils force turnovers at an elite rate, and Wake Forest cannot afford to give Duke extra possessions. Every mistake will be magnified and converted into easy transition buckets. Duke has won eight of its last 10 meetings against Wake Forest, and the market is telling us this one won't be close with an 17.5-point spread.

The 149.5 Total and Pace Considerations

The 149.5 total is notably low for a Duke game, which suggests oddsmakers expect the Blue Devils' defense to dominate this matchup. Duke held both Cal and Stanford to under 37% shooting during their West Coast trip, and Wake Forest doesn't have the offensive firepower to consistently generate quality looks against this defense. The Demon Deacons may try to slow the pace to keep the game manageable, but that strategy often backfires against elite teams who can win games in the half-court just as effectively as in transition.

Wake Forest's 1-4 ATS record in their last five games is concerning, and they're facing a Duke team that's 7-3 ATS in its last 10 meetings against the Deacs. The market clearly respects Duke's ability to cover large spreads against inferior ACC competition, and there's nothing in Wake Forest's recent performance to suggest they can hang with a team of this caliber. Cameron Indoor will be rocking, Boozer will dominate the paint, and the Blue Devils should control this game from start to finish.

The Bottom Line

This is Duke doing Duke things in Durham. The Blue Devils have the best player on the floor in Cameron Boozer, the best home court advantage in college basketball, and a defense that suffocates opponents. Wake Forest will compete for stretches because Steve Forbes won't let his team roll over, but the talent gap is simply too significant. The 17.5-point spread is massive, but Duke has proven all season that they can cover big numbers against ACC opponents. Wake Forest's recent loss to SMU by 12 points on the road suggests they can't handle quality competition, and Duke is a level above SMU. The under at 149.5 has appeal given Duke's defensive dominance and Wake's likely strategy of slowing the pace. This is appointment viewing for Duke fans and a learning experience for the Demon Deacons.

This is the game of the day, and it's not particularly close. When the #6 Houston Cougars travel to Lubbock to face the #12 Texas Tech Red Raiders, you're getting two of the best defensive programs in college basketball going head-to-head in one of the most hostile road environments in the country. Houston enters at 17-1 with a 5-0 mark in Big 12 play, riding an 11-game winning streak that has established them as the clear frontrunner for the conference title. Texas Tech is 15-4 and coming off a statement win over Duke in December that put the nation on notice.

Here's what makes this matchup so intriguing: these two teams already played on January 6th in Houston, and the Cougars escaped with a hard-fought victory. Texas Tech controlled the game with about 8 minutes to play, leading 55-49, before Houston went on a devastating 20-7 run to close things out. The Cougars scored 22 points off Texas Tech's 14 turnovers in that contest, which tells you exactly what Kelvin Sampson's team does to opponents who make mistakes. Now the Red Raiders get a chance for revenge in front of their home crowd, and United Supermarkets Arena will be absolutely rocking.

The Rematch Factor and Home Court Advantage

Texas Tech hasn't had much success against Kelvin Sampson's Cougars historically. The Red Raiders are just 1-5 straight up against Houston since Sampson took over, including 1-3 as conference opponents. That lone win came in a 1-point overtime thriller, which tells you how difficult it is to beat this Cougars team. Houston's defensive pressure creates chaos, their transition offense capitalizes on turnovers, and they simply don't beat themselves. The Cougars are 10-0 straight up and 8-2 against the spread in their last 10 games, which is elite performance by any measure.

But here's where Texas Tech has hope: they're at home, where they're 12-1 this season, and they just beat Duke. That victory over the Blue Devils gave Texas Tech legitimate national credibility and proved they can compete with anyone when they're locked in defensively. The Red Raiders are 8-2 straight up and 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games, showing consistency that most programs would envy. The 1.5-point spread suggests the market views this as essentially a pick'em, with Houston getting slight respect based on their recent form and head-to-head dominance.

The 137.5 Total and Defensive Chess Match

The 137.5 total is one of the lowest you'll see all season, and that's exactly right for this matchup. Both Houston and Texas Tech are built on defensive principles, and neither team wants to get into a track meet. Houston has hit the under in 4 of their last 5 games, which tells you Sampson is more than happy to grind opponents into the ground with his suffocating half-court defense. Texas Tech plays a similar style, and when two elite defensive teams meet, possessions become precious and points become scarce.

The first meeting between these teams on January 6th saw Houston escape with a victory, but it was a low-scoring affair that went down to the wire. Expect this game to follow a similar script: every possession will matter, turnovers will be devastating, and the team that executes better in crunch time will emerge victorious. Houston's experience in close games gives them a slight edge, but Texas Tech's home court and hunger for revenge make this a genuine toss-up. This is college basketball at its finest, two elite programs battling for Big 12 supremacy.

The Bottom Line

This is must-watch television for any college basketball fan. Houston and Texas Tech represent the best of what college hoops has to offer: elite defense, disciplined execution, and players who compete on every possession. The Cougars have been the better team this season and hold the head-to-head advantage, but Texas Tech at home is a different animal. United Supermarkets Arena will be deafening, the Red Raiders will be desperate for revenge, and the margin for error is essentially zero. The 1.5-point spread is razor-thin for a reason. This game will likely come down to the final two minutes, and whoever handles the pressure better will walk away with a statement win. The under at 137.5 feels almost guaranteed given both teams' defensive identities. Circle this one on your calendar.

Coleman Coliseum plays host to one of the best SEC rivalries in college basketball as Rick Barnes brings his Tennessee Volunteers to Tuscaloosa to face Nate Oats and the Alabama Crimson Tide. This is the kind of late-night SEC matchup that separates contenders from pretenders, and both programs have legitimate aspirations for March success. Alabama is 13-5 overall with a 3-2 SEC record, while Tennessee is looking to prove they can win on the road against quality competition.

Here's what makes this game fascinating from a betting perspective: Rick Barnes has won four straight games against Nate Oats. That head-to-head dominance is remarkable given the talent Alabama has featured over the past few seasons. Tennessee is 4-1 straight up and 4-1 against the spread in their last five games against Alabama, which suggests the Vols have figured out something that works against Oats' system. The market is asking us to lay 3.5 points with Alabama at home, but Barnes' track record against this opponent deserves serious consideration.

Alabama's Home Court and Recent Form

Alabama enters this matchup in the midst of a 2-game winning streak, and at 3-2 in conference play, the Tide are a game better than the Vols in the SEC standings. The Crimson Tide have been dominant at home, going 5-1 in their last 6 games at Coleman Coliseum, and the atmosphere for this rivalry matchup will be electric. Nate Oats' teams typically thrive in high-intensity home environments, and Alabama has the offensive firepower to bury opponents quickly if they get rolling.

Charles Bediako provides Alabama with a physical presence in the paint that few SEC opponents can match. His ability to alter shots and control the glass gives the Tide a significant advantage on the defensive end. Alabama's 13-3 straight up record in their last 16 games played in January suggests they handle the grind of conference play well, and they'll need that experience against a battle-tested Tennessee squad. The key for Alabama is avoiding the turnovers that Tennessee's pressure defense creates, because the Vols are elite at converting steals into easy transition buckets.

The 166.5 Total and Historical Trends

Here's where the analysis gets really interesting: the total has gone under in 12 of Alabama's last 13 games against Tennessee, and under in 5 of Alabama's last 5 home games against the Vols. That's a remarkable trend that suggests these teams know each other so well that they slow each other down. Rick Barnes' defensive principles have historically matched up well against Nate Oats' up-tempo style, creating grinding, physical games that stay well under the total.

Tennessee's road struggles are concerning, as they're 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games on the road and 0-3 straight up and ATS in their 3 true road games this year. That's a significant red flag for anyone considering the Volunteers at +3.5. But the head-to-head history can't be ignored. Barnes has consistently outcoached Oats in this matchup, and Tennessee's defensive intensity has given Alabama fits in recent meetings. This is a game where the contrasting trends create a genuinely difficult handicapping puzzle.

The Bottom Line

This is the definition of a coin-flip game with conflicting trends pulling in opposite directions. Alabama is at home, playing well, and has the crowd behind them. But Rick Barnes owns Nate Oats in this matchup, going 4-0 head-to-head with Tennessee consistently finding ways to slow down Alabama's offense. The 3.5-point spread is tight, reflecting just how difficult this game is to predict. Tennessee's dreadful road ATS record suggests fading them, but the head-to-head history suggests trusting Barnes. The under at 166.5 feels like the safest play given the remarkable 12-1 under trend in these teams' recent meetings. Expect a physical, grinding SEC battle that comes down to the final minutes. This is appointment television for college basketball fans, and the atmosphere at Coleman Coliseum will be absolutely electric.