As the 2025-26 college basketball season kicks off, several teams will wait until tomorrow to start their campaigns, including the esteemed Duke and Texas programs. The two will take the court at the Dick Vitale Invitational, a new event this year.

• Duke had an impressive record of 35-4 last season, winning the ACC regular season and tournament before advancing to the Final Four.
• Texas, on the other hand, ended last season with a 19-16 record and was eliminated in the First Four of March Madness. They have since hired Sean Miller as head coach.

Tipoff is scheduled for 8:45 p.m. ET at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Duke leads the rivalry with three wins in past matchups. The Blue Devils are currently favored by 10.5 points, with a predicted total of 153.5 points for the game.

For accurate betting insights, visit the SportsLine Projection Model for predictions before placing your bets.

Texas’ Strengths

The Longhorns will have returning double-digit scorers Jordan Pope and Tramon Mark and added transfers such as Lassina Traore from Long Beach State. Traore has been a standout in rebounding during his time there.

Duke’s Advantage

Duke is known to attract top talents such as Cameron Boozer, who is well-regarded for his skills, leading the No. 1 recruiting class for 2025. Duke is anticipated to have a solid performance with remaining team members from last season’s powerful roster.

The game promises to be an exciting showdown between these two powerhouse teams as they both strive to start the season on a high note.