Cameron Boozer and the Duke Blue Devils are heavy favorites in tonight’s primetime clash with Kansas. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

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Tyler Everett

By Tyler Everett

Sports Betting Editor

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Feast Week* is not here yet, but we're awfully close.

Starting with tonight's State Farm Champions Classic doubleheader featuring No. 17 Michigan State vs. No. 12 Kentucky (6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) and No. 5 Duke vs. No. 24 Kansas (9 p.m. ET, ESPN), it would be an insult to call this week's slate a mere appetizer.

In addition to tonight's showcase matchups, there are two more must-see NCAAM games taking place tomorrow night:

Below, let's dive into the betting odds, best player prop bets and ATS picks for Duke-Kansas and Michigan State-Kentucky.

I'll keep my thoughts on tomorrow's games (extremely) brief -- right now, I'm leaning toward Arizona (+4.5) to hang with UConn (and cover) in Storrs.

I also like bruising Fighting Illini freshman David Mirkovic to have another big night on the glass. As long as the over/under on his rebounds is below 13.5, the over on that prop is going to be my favorite bet for that matchup.

*If you're reading this newsletter, next week's college hoops extravaganza probably needs no introduction. For the uninitiated: I'm referring to the glorious Thanksgiving-adjacent feast of high-level basketball taking place at the Maui Invitational, the Battle 4 Atlantis and beyond.

Duke-Kansas Betting Odds, Player Props, Picks

Tipoff: 9 p.m. ET

TV: ESPN

Betting odds (via DK)

- Spread: Duke -10.5 (-112); KU +10.5 (-108)

- Moneyline: Duke -675; Kansas +490

- Total: 148.5 (over -105; under -115)

As you've probably heard, the Jayhawks (3-1) are without superstar freshman Darryn Peterson tonight. That's why Duke -- which is undefeated but also relatively untested -- is laying more than 10 points against a perennial contender like Kansas.

While we will not get to see the highly anticipated Darryn Peterson vs. Cameron Boozer clash of likely top-3 picks in the 2026 NBA Draft, there will be plenty of star power on display in this game. Boozer alone makes this a matchup worth checking out. The son of former Duke and Chicago Bulls star Carlos Boozer is coming off an eye-popping night vs. Indiana State last Friday (35 points, 12 rebounds).

Duke is no one-man show, though. The Devils' lineup also features a handful of contributors from last year's Final Four squad, including sharpshooter Isaiah Evans, veteran guard Caleb Foster and sophomore big man Patrick Ngongba II.

In Duke's only matchup this year against major-conference competition, it trailed Texas 33-32 at halftime of its season opener before winning by 15 following a dominant second half.

I'm not convinced Duke will pull away so emphatically tonight, but I do expect another close game for at least the first 20 minutes.

Kansas had Peterson for its trip to take on UNC in Chapel Hill earlier this season, and it's hard to overstate his impact. Still, it's notable that the Jayhawks led the Heels 37-29 at halftime before fading down the stretch in an 87-74 loss.

If there's a player prop bet I recommend (in addition to taking Kansas to cover the first-half spread of 5.5), it's Isaiah Evans to get hot.

Evans is listed at -115 to score at least 15 points, and I like his chances of clearing that line, as I expect the Jayhawks to prioritize slowing down Boozer.

Best bets:

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