Too early to start talking NCAA basketball betting? Hardly. Gambling enthusiasts are already hungry for articles and tidbits to kick off their off-season scouting heading into some of the best betting sports has to offer. Will UNC still dominate? Who’s this year’s sleeper? How much of an eye should we be keeping on UL? The questions are endless at this time of year, but perhaps the most looming question, one that’s been out there for a couple years now, is what’s going on with Duke?

Used to be you could bet Duke with your eyes closed, no matter the spread, and if they lost it was a huge upset, not something to add to a pattern of disappointing performances.

So why the slide from greatness? Well, one could argue Duke hasn’t gone anywhere, and is still on top of the pack, but the truth is they have, and the numbers don’t lie. Last year Duke started losing when it mattered most, and finished the season a very “not great” 30-7.

Some are claiming the problem, of all things, lies with Mike Krzyzewski. That’s right, the crystal clean image coach who’s been with Duke through all of it’s recent storied history, is the target of accusations he’s not spending enough time recruiting, and thus Duke is hurting as a result. Mostly an involvement in Team USA has pulled Coach K away from the college off-season process, and as a gambler, I’d be concerned. There doesn’t appear to be a savior on the horizon or waiting to step up after graduations. Sure, Duke still has a solid core, but against the other elites, I wouldn’t waste my time betting like it were 6 or 7 years ago.

Look no further than Brandan Wright to see how UNC and other teams are now getting the players that historically would’ve been lining up to go to Duke. It’s eerily similar to Nebraska’s slide from greatness in college football, although possibly more damaging here at Duke since the coach responsible for the team’s ascension is still in place.

The NCAA Basketball Odds recommendation here is not to assume Duke can even cover the spread in a gimme game these days. They’ll surprise even themselves with how sloppy and unfocused they can become, and negative press sticks with you for a while, even if it’s during the off season. Look elsewhere for the safe bets this year, it’s not going to be found in Durham.