Why is Duke an underdog against Clemson?

[fearless]

At the moment Duke is a one point underdog against Clemson at BetCris.

Check out the stats:

http://www.bodog.com/betting-matchups/ncaa-college-basketball/20070222/107-72

Duke is 9-0 all time against Clemson. Duke has a higher ranking than Clemson, Duke has a higher point differential by almost a point than Clemson, Duke has a better record than Clemson, Duke is a better shooting team than Clemson. Duke has a better ACC record than Clemson.

Why is Duke an underdog against Clemson?

[rjt721]

1. Homecourt
2. Clemson desperately needs a win to have any shot at a tourney bid.

Clemson also played Duke tough on the road earlier in the season, losing by only 2.

I would lean towards Duke, but personally I won't be playing this one.

[MBENZ]

Duke also has an outside chance of getting the 4 seed in the ACC tourny which is big.This has all the makings of a trap but I guess my dumb is falling into it.I think by post time Duke will be favored by 1-2.GL

[onlooker]

Because Duke is overrated, and not that good.

[BuddyBear]

Because Duke is overrated, and not that good.

That pretty much sums it up.....

[Illusion]

I think by post time Duke will be favored by 1-2.GL

Duke is now either -1 or -1.5 at many shops right now.

[The HG]

I see this game as similar to the Wisc/MSU game - great to watch, but not an obvious value game. Most of us correctly picked MSU, which was a good choice for a variety of reasons. In this game though, I don't see any clear value at all. There are general situational factors I have that favor Clemson, but specific situational factors that favor Duke.

Duke has truly dominated Clemson, in a way that you see around in basketball (like Dallas' domination of New Jersey in the NBA). Duke has beaten Clemson 20 STRAIGHT TIMES! Clemson hasn't beaten Duke since 1997, and the average margin of victory has been 16 points!

Yes Clemson played Duke tought eariler this year, but they also got beat bad by Maryland at home last game, and they'll have a tough time rebounding here considering that Duke themselves are sort of in a multi-game rebound mode after dropping out of the Top 25. Duke is overrated in general, and not as deep as they ought to be, but I'd take them here if forced to choose a side.

But I'm definitely passing on this one betting-wise.