Duke Will Face Baylor in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday

Duke will face Baylor in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, setting up a high-stakes matchup between two programs with postseason pedigree.

Duke will face Baylor in the second round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament on Sunday, setting up a high-stakes matchup between two programs with postseason pedigree. For Blue Devils guard Tyrese Proctor, the emotions are familiar—and motivating. Having been part of the Duke squads that fell to Tennessee in the second round two years ago and to N.C. State just short of the Final Four last spring, Proctor is drawing from those setbacks ahead of Sunday’s showdown.

"It’s something I keep in the back of my mind, because I’ve been through it," Proctor said Saturday. "I was a part of those teams that lost to those teams. I use it as motivation and giving out as information to the other guys, what it felt like and the aftermath of it. It’s something that I don’t want to go through again. I think it’s fueling me and the rest of our team."

Scheyer Seeks Breakthrough Postseason Win

Jon Scheyer’s tenure as Duke head coach has already yielded two ACC championships and an Elite Eight appearance, but a second-round NCAA tournament win has eluded him. Duke was physically outmatched by Tennessee in the second round of Scheyer’s first postseason, and while the team benefited from bracket chaos last year, they were ultimately edged out by N.C. State.

This year’s Blue Devils feature a tougher, more versatile roster. They’ve collected wins against elite competition, including Illinois, Auburn, and Arizona. Despite some early-season losses to Kansas and Kentucky, Duke enters this matchup feeling far more complete and battle-tested. Even with injuries to Cooper Flagg and Malik Brown during the ACC Tournament, the Blue Devils still emerged as the lone conference team to survive past the first round.

Sunday’s opponent, Baylor, presents a serious test. With veterans like Jeremy Sochan and Norchad Omier and freshman standout V.J. Edgecombe, the Bears offer a blend of experience and high-end talent. While it may not be a vintage Baylor team, it’s still a hardened Big 12 contender—exactly the kind of challenge Scheyer’s new-look Duke team was built to overcome.

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Baylor vs. Duke March Madness betting preview

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This prediction and best bet for Sunday's March Madness matchup between Baylor and Duke is from PointsBet.

Get all the important details on today's game, as well as the best odds from the top sportsbooks in the country.

Game details

The key information you need ahead of the Baylor vs. Duke college basketball game.

Date: Sunday, March 18

Time: 2:40 p.m. ET

TV channel: CBS

Live stream: Paramount+

Location: Lenovo Center in New Orleans, Louisiana

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Odds

The odds and lines featured in this article are the best available from selected sports betting sites at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Expert prediction: Baylor vs. Duke

The experts at PointsBet have completed 10,000 simulations of Sunday’s Baylor vs. Duke matchup.

According to PointsBet's cutting-edge predictive analytics model, Duke is more likely to beat Baylor at Lenovo Center. This prediction is based on the model giving Duke a 60.8% chance of winning the game.

Elsewhere on the betting board, Points predicts that Duke (-12.5) has a 49.4% chance of covering the spread, while the 143.5-point over/under has a 52.3% chance of going over.

These predictions and probabilities are accurate at the time of publication but are subject to potential changes.

Baylor vs. Duke best bet: March Madness Second Round

Our top pick for the Baylor vs. Duke game on Sunday is to bet on Over 143.5 points (-108).

This betting advice is powered by extensive simulations and valuable betting intelligence, designed to guide you towards the best possible plays.

Score prediction for Baylor vs. Duke

PointsBet's predicted final score for the Baylor vs. Duke in the Second Round of March Madness on Sunday has Duke winning 79-69.

This expert prediction is based on each team’s average score following 10,000 game simulations, offering a glimpse into the potential outcome.

March Madness Sunday: Baylor vs. Duke

Don't miss Sunday's highly anticipated college basketball clash between Baylor and Duke at Lenovo Center in New Orleans, kicking off at 2:40 p.m. ET.

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