Steve Merril's Wednesday Fullcourt Report (Jan. 18)

College basketball is now in the heart of conference action and the next two months will determine which teams go dancing in March. It is a large card in college basketball on Wednesday night, including three nationally televised games. N.C. State makes the short road trip to face in-state rival Duke, while a pair of Big Ten battles take place between Northwestern/Michigan and Wisconsin/Ohio State. Below is a look at all three national TV matchups. N.C. STATE at DUKE (-11, 144) (ESPN) N.C. State will provide another tough challenge for the #1 ranked and undefeated Duke Blue Devils (16-0 SU). The Wolfpack are 14-2 SU this season with their only two losses coming at Iowa and at North Carolina. The Wolfpack have a strong defense which allows just 38 percent from the field (versus opponents that average 44 percent overall) and overall the Wolfpack is permitting just 61 points per game (versus opponents that average 71 ppg). Duke is a long-term 63-47 ATS as a double-digit home favorite under head coach Mike Krzyzewski and beat Maryland last Wednesday 76-52 as a 13-point favorite. It appears the oddsmakers are finally making the proper adjustments as Duke's most recent game on Saturday landed exactly on the closing number as the Blue Devils won 87-77 at Clemson as a 10-point favorite. Duke has gone 3-1 SU/ATS in their past four meetings versus N.C. State; however Duke only won once in those four games by more than twelve points. NORTHWESTERN at MICHIGAN (-10