NCAA Basketball
2025-04-05 - Houston Cougars at Duke Blue Devils
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : NCAA Tournament Final Four
Saturday 5th April 2025 - Scheduled 8:49pm
1:49am (British Time)
Preview
Seventeen years have passed since the one time that all four Number 1 Seeds in the NCAA Tournament Bracket made it through to the Final Four.
That is the case for the second time in 2025 and the second of the two Final Four games is the one with the wider spread.
The Duke Blue Devils (35-3) have long felt like the best team in College Basketball with the likely Number 1 NBA Draft Pick amongst a deep roster. They are facing the Houston Cougars (34-4), who did win seventeen games in a row at one stage in the season, but who have been very happy with being downplayed and seen as a significant underdog.
However, any team that has the kind of Defensive schemes that the Houston Cougars have will present a test to every opponent they face, even in the face of what may be the biggest challenge they are likely to see this season.
Using every bit of their experience is going to be key for the Cougars against what is a young Duke team- no matter how talented they are, experience can close the gap and that is so important for Houston if they are going to keep this close enough to try and expose any potential nerves deep into the second half.
That Defensive unit has to protect the rim and force Duke to look for the three point shooters to win this game. The feeling is that if the Blue Devils are able to continue to have enough success inside the paint, it will give them the balance to effectively do whatever they like and that will make the very tough to beat.
Another big problem for every team that faces the Duke Blue Devils is that they have an elite Defensive team of their own and this is going bring plenty of issues for the Cougars.
All respect has to be given to Houston for the way they have moved through the NCAA Tournament and ultimately all of the pressure is on Duke to make use of a roster that is destined to send a number of players to the NBA. Having the best player in College Basketball is another pressure, but so far Duke have shown they can handle all that is thrown their way.
If Houston can force the Blue Devils to become uncomfortable, they will have a chance, but the feeling is that Duke will find a way.
It is a wide spread all things considered, although the feeling is that Duke will show off their own Defensive talent to contain Houston and players can step up alongside Cooper Flagg and lead the Blue Devils to the NCAA Championship Game as would have been predicted when the season began.
Prediction
You cannot overlook Houston, but laying the points with the favourite looks the right play for this Final Four game.
The Pick :
Duke Blue Devil 78-69 Houston Cougars
