The 2026 Champions Classic opens with a top-five showdown as the No. 5 Michigan State Spartans face the No. 2 Duke Blue Devils at the United Center in Chicago. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, with both teams entering the contest undefeated at 2-0.
Series History and Recent Form
Duke holds a 16-4 all-time series advantage and won last year's meeting 66-60. The Blue Devils have posted blowout victories over Army (84 points) and Coastal Carolina (113 points), while Michigan State has rolled past Quinnipiac and Toledo, scoring 91 and 96 points respectively.
Betting Odds
Duke is a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under set at 147.5 points. The money line lists Duke at -340 and Michigan State at +280.
Key Players
Michigan State is led by preseason national player of the year contender Jeremy Fears Jr., who averages 12.5 points and 10 assists per game. Duke counters with frontcourt size and depth anchored by Patrick Ngongba II (19 points, 8 rebounds per game), alongside playmakers Cayden Boozer and Dame Sarr.
Model Prediction
A projection model that has gone 11-1 on top-rated over/under picks since 2025 and 28-22 on side picks leans toward the over on the 147.5-point total, projecting a combined 149 points with the over hitting in 57% of simulations. The model also indicates one side of the spread hits in well over 60% of simulations.
