Duke vs. Florida State Preview & Predictions

The Duke Blue Devils had their most impressive win of the season over Notre Dame on Saturday, and will try to keep their win streak going against the Seminoles. Florida State seems to have turned a corner having won three of their last four games, and are looking to grab a signature win over Duke.

Projected Starting Lineups

(4) Duke Blue Devils (20-3, 7-3 in ACC)

G Tyus Jones (Fr.) – 11.1 ppg, 5.0 apg

G Quinn Cook (Sr.) – 14.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg

F Justise Winslow (Fr.) – 11.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg

F Amile Jefferson (Jr.) – 8.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg

C Jahlil Okafor (Fr.)– 18.2 ppg, 9.3 rpg

Florida State Seminoles (13-11, 5-6 in ACC)

G Xavier Rathan-Mayes (Fr.) –13.7 ppg, 4.8 apg

G Devon Bookert (Jr.) – 10.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg

G Montay Brandon (Jr.) – 12.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg

F Phil Cofer (Fr.) – 7.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg

C Michael Ojo (Jr.) – 2.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg

What to watch for:

Can Duke avoid a letdown game?

It would be very easy for this young Duke team to not come out with the necessary intensity and focus following their 90-60 win over Notre Dame, and they could be looking ahead to the upcoming stretch against Syracuse and North Carolina. Florida State has been inconsistent all year, but if Duke gets off to a slow start, the Seminoles will take advantage and turn this into a closer game than it should be.

Can Florida State make shots from long range?

Duke let their opponents shoot 28-44 (63.6%) from three-point range in their three losses this season, and that has been their downfall in each of those games. Florida State is a dreadful shooting team from the outside, shooting 28.9 percent on the season. Bookert (41.2%) and Cofer (40%) are the only players shooting over 26 percent from deep, and the Seminoles are going to need those guys to make a lot of shots from the outside if they're going to win.

Prediction: Duke wins 78-62

Florida State is a good defensive team, but their offense just isn't very good. Even if Duke starts slow while dealing with the Notre Dame hangover, they'll turn things on eventually and win in convincing fashion.