Vegas Play of the Day: Duke at Wake Forest

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016 | 2:53 p.m.

We've reset the Play of the Day with fresh bankrolls and turned it into a yearly competition. Our three sports writers have re-started with $10,000 bankrolls to continue using on odds from the South Point.

Wake Forest plus-8 vs. Duke: $440 to win $400: Wake Forest will be overmatched tonight against Duke and probably will lose. But it isn’t going to get blown out and the game won’t be decided until the final five minutes. Wake Forest at plus-8 should be a comfortable points spread cover.

Duke has a deceiving 12-2 record with just a few wins against quality teams — Indiana, VCU and Georgetown. And those aren’t exactly top-25 opponents. But when Duke plays the likes of Kentucky or Utah, it is defeated.

Wake Forest, like most teams matching up against the defending national champions, will give a top effort. It’s home fans will give a top effort, too.

Wake Forest (9-4) is looking for a signature win in Danny Manning’s second season as coach. Why not against the defending national champions? His team is definitely playing like one that is turning the corner. They lost by eight points last week on the road at Louisville, and forward Devin Thomas has been tough to guard on the interior.

Current Standings (as of July 1):Brewer (30-24, $11,070), Bern (20-28, $6,435), Keefer (22-38-2, $3,861)

Lifetime standings: 2014-15 Champion Bern (100-101-1), Brewer (99-112-2), Keefer (105-121-4)

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21