Duke vs. Arkansas Prediction & Odds: College Basketball Betting Preview for Nov. 27

My Duke vs. Arkansas prediction has the No. 4 Blue Devils rolling against the No. 22 Razorbacks when they clash on Thursday. Tipoff for the CBS Sports Thanksgiving Classic is at 8 p.m. ET at the United Center in Chicago.

Duke (7-0) is a 10.5-point betting favorite against Arkansas (5-1), and yet, that might not be enough points. This matchup is part of college basketball's Feast Week.

✅ Duke vs. Arkansas prediction & expert picks

See all of our experts' college basketball picks this week.

🏀 Duke vs. Arkansas preview & score prediction

The Razorbacks are 5-1 but don’t have an impressive win on their resume. The Blue Devils have a case to be the top team in college basketball, earning double-digit wins over Texas and Kansas.

Basically, this is a mismatch on paper.  

Duke poses as a big test, literally

The thing about Arkansas’ 5-1 start is that it doesn’t have a win over anyone ranked higher than Winthrop, which is 106th on KenPom. And that was an 84-83 home win.

The Razorbacks haven’t faced a team close to the Blue Devils’ talent. Duke is No. 3 on KenPom, winning all seven contests by 12 points.

Arkansas has a freshman duo in its backcourt, a typical build under head coach John Calipari. So, the Razorbacks may find their footing later in the season. However, the Blue Devils make life difficult on the defensive end, thanks to their overwhelming length.

Duke ranks fifth in the country in average height. That helps the Blue Devils rank fifth in adjusted defensive efficiency. Their average defensive possession is 19.3 seconds (362nd), a sign of how much their length troubles opposing teams.

I expect Duke to control this game from the start on both ends of the floor.

Score prediction: Duke 86, Arkansas 71

🆚 Duke vs. Arkansas matchup to watch

Cameron Boozer’s rebounding vs. a potential blowout

Arkansas ranks 212th in the country in offensive rebound rate and 111th in defensive rebound rate. Those are fine numbers, but no match for Cameron Boozer’s rebounding.

Boozer, a potential top pick in next year’s NBA draft, ranks 30th in the nation with an average of 9.9 rebounds per game. He has recorded at least 11 rebounds in four outings, which include his matchups against Texas and Kansas.

If Boozer plays about 30 minutes, I like his chances of clearing this line. My only concern is him sitting out for an extended stretch to end the game if Duke runs away with it.

Best prop bet: Cameron Boozer Over 10.5 rebounds (-108 via FanDuel)

📊 Duke vs. Arkansas odds

See live college basketball odds for every game.

📺 How to watch Duke vs. Arkansas

• Date: Thursday, Nov. 27
• Tipoff: 8 p.m. ET
• Location: United Center (Chicago)
• TV: CBS