ESPN predicts Duke will beat Clemson in ACC showdown

The 18th-ranked Tigers face a tough test against the 4th-ranked Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Feb. 13, 2026 at 2:31pm

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Clemson's 18th-ranked men's basketball team will face a tough road test against the 4th-ranked Duke Blue Devils on Saturday. ESPN's matchup predictor gives Clemson only a 10.8% chance of pulling off the upset at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Why it matters

This ACC matchup features two highly ranked teams with Clemson looking to bounce back from a recent upset loss to Virginia Tech. A win over Duke would be a major boost for the Tigers' NCAA Tournament resume.

The details

Clemson (20-5, 10-2 ACC) is coming off a 76-66 loss to Virginia Tech, while Duke (22-2, 11-1 ACC) is looking to build on a 70-54 win over Pittsburgh. The Blue Devils are led by standout scorer Cameron Boozer, who averages 23 points per game nationally. Clemson nearly upset Duke the last time they visited Cameron Indoor in 2024, falling 72-71 on a late foul call.

  • Clemson and Duke will tip off at noon ET on Saturday, February 14, 2026.
  • Clemson last defeated Duke 77-71 in February 2025 at Littlejohn Coliseum.
  • Clemson nearly upset Duke 72-71 in their last visit to Cameron Indoor Stadium in January 2024.

The players

Cameron Boozer

Duke's leading scorer, averaging 23 points per game nationally.

Jailen Bedford

Virginia Tech player who scored 23 points in the Hokies' upset win over Clemson.

Ben Hammond

Virginia Tech player who scored 19 points in the Hokies' upset win over Clemson.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

What’s next

ESPN's metrics give Duke a 97% chance of winning the ACC regular season title, while Clemson's odds have dropped to 3.4% after the loss to Virginia Tech.

The takeaway

Clemson faces a major challenge in trying to upset the highly ranked Blue Devils on the road, but a win would be a huge boost for the Tigers' NCAA Tournament hopes as they look to bounce back from the Virginia Tech loss.