Duke Basketball and the Greatest Home Advantages in Sports

Duke basketball has one of the best home-court advantages in all of sports and it was on display against North Carolina last night.

Home advantages exist in nearly every sport. In some sports, those advantages are greater than others, but there is just something about playing in front of a home crowd that helps some teams play better.

While college football, the NFL and college basketball seem to lend themselves most to home advantages, the NBA actually has the highest home-winning percentage among the big sports.

So here we count down the top 20 home advantages in sports.

Which venues did we leave off the list? Let us know below.

20. Pepsi Center

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DENVER - APRIL 29: J.R. Smith #1 of the Denver Nuggets celebrates a three point goal against the New Orleans Hornets to the delight of the crowd in Game Five of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Pepsi Center on April 29

Home of: The Denver Nuggets

Nickname: The Can

Capacity: 19,309

Home record: 21-7

The Pepsi Center opened in 1999 and since then it has been one of the best home courts in the NBA. The crowd really picks it up in the playoffs and that stems from the fact that Denver is one of the most underrated sports towns in America.

The capacity isn't huge, but the fans are rabid for their Nuggets and they really pick it up for quality opponents like the Lakers or Heat.

19. Aloha Stadium

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HONOLULU - SEPTEMBER 02: Levi Legay #53, Shane Austin #10, and Jett Jasper #82 of the University of Hawaii Warriors and other team members rush out of the tunnel to take the field in their season opener against the University of Southern California Trojan

Home of: Hawaii Warriors

Capacity: 50,000

Home record: 6-2

Aloha Stadium is a home-field advantage because of location as much as anything else. No matter how good or bad the Warriors are, they will always have an advantage at home because of the fact that teams have to fly a long way to get to Hawaii.

However, location is not the only reason they make the list. The crowd there is extremely rowdy and Hawaii wins a lot of the time at home.

18. University Arena

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LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 22: Chace Stanback #22 of the UNLV Rebels celebrates with fans after the team's 63-62 victory over the New Mexico Lobos at the Thomas & Mack Center January 22, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Home of: The New Mexico Lobos

Nickname: The Pit

Capacity: 18,118

Home record: 12-1

The Pit is always home to some of the most raucous crowds in college basketball. Not only are the fans right on top of the court, but according to a study, they are also the loudest crowd in college hoops.

The way the stadium is built and the way the crowd supports the Lobos makes this one of the toughest places to play in college hoops. This year, 12 of their 17 wins have come in the Pit.

17. The RBC Center

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RALEIGH, NC - MAY 23: Carolina fans cheer for the Carolina Hurricanes against the Pittsburgh Penguins during Game Three of the Eastern Conference Championship Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs at RBC Center on May 23, 2009 in Raleigh, North Carolina

Home of: Carolina Hurricanes

Nickname: The RBC

Capacity: 18,176

Home record: 14-9-2

The Carolina Hurricanes have one of the more exciting arenas in the NHL. The fans are rowdy and show up in droves, especially during the playoffs.

While the crowd might have a tough time coming out for regular season games, when they are there the team plays great.

16. Ohio Stadium

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COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 27: The Ohio State Buckeyes sing the school alma mater with the marching band after they defeated the Michigan Wolverines 37-7 at Ohio Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Home of: The Ohio State Buckeyes

Nickname: The Horseshoe

Capacity: 102,329

Home record: 8-0

The Horseshoe is always one of the toughest places to play in college football. Part of that has to do with the stadium and crowd, but some of it also has to do with the team on the field. Ohio State has been a power in college football for the last decade.

While the capacity for the Shoe is just 102,329, Ohio State had a record crowd of 106,033 in 2009 when the Buckeyes played host to the USC Trojans.

15. Heinz Field

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 23: Pittsburgh Steelers fans celebrate during their 24 to 19 win over the New York Jets during the 2011 AFC Championship game at Heinz Field on January 23, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Home of: Pittsburgh Steelers

Nickname: The Big Ketchup Bottle

Capacity: 65,050

Home record: 7-3

The home of the Terrible Towel is always one of the toughest places to play in the NFL. Their home record might not be the most stellar, but that has more to do with the difficult teams they have played at home this year than their actual home performance.

Another factor of a great home-field advantage is weather. Weather comes into play for the Steelers' home games every year.

14. Rose Garden

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PORTLAND, OR - OCTOBER 27: Brandon Roy #7 of the Portland Trail Blazers walks through the crowd during player introduction before the opening game against the Houston Rockets during the season opener on October 27, 2009 at the Rose Garden in Portland, Or

Home of: The Portland Trail Blazers

Nickname: The Garden

Capacity: 20,630

Home record: 18-7

Portland loves their Trail Blazers and the Garden is always rocking. The capacity of the Garden is among the highest in the league and the crowd is among the loudest.

The Blazers have had their ups and downs, but they always play well at home even when they aren't doing as well in the standings.

13. Gillette Stadium

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 16: The New England Patriots take the field before playing against the New York Jets to start their 2011 AFC divisional playoff game at Gillette Stadium on January 16, 2011 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Michael Heiman/Getty

Home of: The New England Patriots

Nickname: The Razor

Capacity: 68,756

Home record: 8-1

Gillette is another stadium in which weather usually comes into play. The Patriots, however, are one of the few teams in the NFL that seems to play just as well in cold weather and snow as they do in good weather.

Now I know that a big reason the home-field advantage is there for New England is because of how good the team has been for the last decade, but the advantage remains even when they are bad.

12. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

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GAINESVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 13: Andre Debose #4 of the Florida Gators returns the opening kickoff for a touchdown during a game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 13, 2010 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Mike

Home of: The Florida Gators

Nickname: The Swamp

Capacity: 88,548

Home record: 5-3

The Swamp is another stadium in which weather comes into play. However, the weather is hot and humid as opposed to the cold and snowy conditions of the other stadiums on this list.

Obviously the home record wasn't great this year, but that is due to the uncertainty surrounding the roster and not about the place the team is playing in.

11. EnergySolutions Arena

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SALT LAKE CITY - MAY 10: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots a free throw against the Utah Jazz during Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2010 NBA Playoffs on May 10, 2010 at Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Home of: The Utah Jazz

Nickname: ESA

Capacity: 19,911

Home record: 17-11

The crowd at ESA is considered among the most hostile in the NBA. Sometimes the crowd has been known to get ugly.

One example of the Jazz fans getting ugly is when they booed Derek Fisher of the Lakers. Fisher was a former Jazz player who left Utah to return to the Lakers so that he could get better treatment for his daughter who had cancer. It takes some bitter people to boo someone who wanted to help his daughter.

10. Lane Stadium

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BLACKSBURG, VA - SEPTEMBER 18: Virginia Tech Hokies fans cheer against the East Carolina Pirates at Lane Stadium on September 18, 2010 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images)

Home of: The Virginia Tech Hokies

Nickname: The Terrordome

Capacity: 66,233

Home record: 6-1

First of all, how awesome is that nickname? The Terrordome. It seriously sounds like an awesome 80s horror movie, say, starring Sam Jones from Flash Gordon.

But really, playing in Blacksburg is always a tough task and the Hokies and their fans make it that way.

9. Joe Louis Arena

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DETROIT - MAY 03: General view of Joe Lewis Arena prior to the Anaheim Ducks the Detroit Red Wings in Game Two of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2009 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 3, 2009 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gre

Home of: The Detroit Red Wings

Nickname: The Joe

Capacity: 20,058

Home record: 16-8-4

The Detroit Red Wings are one of the most storied teams in NHL history and they have played all of their home games in the Joe since 1979.

The Red Wings have hung four banners in the rafters at the Joe and they win a majority of their games there. The Joe might not be the most incredible venue, and it might be a little rundown, but it is exactly what the Wings need.

8. Tiger Stadium

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BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 20: A general view of Tiger Stadium during the game betweem the Louisiana State University Tigers and the Ole Miss Rebels on November 20, 2010 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Home of: LSU Tigers

Nickname: Death Valley

Capacity: 92,400

Home record: 8-0

Former Alabama head coach Bear Bryant once said: "Baton Rouge happens to be the worst place in the world for a visiting team. It's like being inside a drum." Bryant is one of the best coaches in football history and if he thinks that Death Valley is that tough a venue, then that is really saying something.

The Tigers playing in Death Valley at night is one of the biggest home field advantages in sports, and they have a great record when the sun goes down.

7. Invesco Field at Mile High

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DENVER - DECEMBER 26: Quarterback Tim Tebow #15 of the Denver Broncos rolls out and looks to deliver a pass against the Houston Texas at INVESCO Field at Mile High on December 26, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Texans 24-23. (Photo b

Home of: Denver Broncos

Nickname: Mile High II

Capacity: 76,125

Home record: 3-5

The Broncos had a tough season this year at home, but that is what happens during a rebuilding project. Despite a tough season, I think the Broncos still have one of the best home-field advantages in the NFL.

The crowd is loud and the weather is cold, but the biggest advantage is the altitude. When playing a mile above sea level, the air is thinner and that is a huge advantage to teams that are used to it.

6. Autzen Stadium

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EUGENE, OR - NOVEMBER 26: Oregon Ducks fans cheer as mascot 'Puddles' prepares to do some push ups in the fourth quarter of the game against the Arizona Wildcats at Autzen Stadium on November 26, 2010 in Eugene, Oregon. Puddles does push ups for every poi

Home of: The Oregon Ducks

Nickname: The Autzen Zoo

Capacity: 54,000

Home record: 6-0

The Autzen Zoo is home to one of the most ridiculous crowds in college athletics. They may not be large in numbers, but the acoustics in the stadium and the passion of the fan base really overflows out of the stadium.

The Ducks could be the best in the conference or the worst, but Autzen is always wild.

5. Allen Fieldhouse

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LAWRENCE, KS - FEBRUARY 07: Kansas Jayhawks fans cheer during player introductions prior to the game against the Missouri Tigers on February 7, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Home of: Kansas Jayhawks

Nickname: The Phog

Capacity: 16,300

Home record: 13-1

The Phog, named for former University of Kansas basketball coach Dr. Forrest C. "Phog" Allen, is one of the toughest venues in college hoops. Kansas is one of the most storied programs and they always play well at the Phog.

The Arena might not be overly large or special, but it oozes basketball history.

4. Lambeau Field

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GREEN BAY, WI - FEBRUARY 08: Green Bay Packers fans gather at Lambeau Field for the Packers victory ceremony on February 8, 2011 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Matt Ludtke/Getty Images)

Home of: Green Bay Packers

Nickname: The Frozen Tundra

Capacity: 73,128

Home record: 7-1

The Frozen Tundra is one of the oldest venues in football history and the Packers have played their home games there since it opened in 1957. Lambeau is a truly historical venue and the Packers are the perfect team to fit the place.

The weather and crowd make Lambeau one of the toughest places to come play. That is why the Packers always seem to win when they play there.

3. TD Garden

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BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 06: Ray Allen #20 of the Boston Celtics celebrates his three point shot in the first half against the Orlando Magic on February 6, 2011 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeated the Magic 91-80. NOTE TO USER: U

Home of: The Boston Celtics

Nickname: The Garden

Capacity: 18,624

Home record: 23-4

Boston has always been one of the best home teams in the NBA. They own the record for best home winning percentage in NBA history and no matter how good or bad they are, the Garden is always a tough place to play.

If Game 7 of the NBA Finals had been played in the Garden as opposed to the Staples Center, I think the Celtics would have blown out the Lakers.

2. Cameron Indoor Stadium

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DURHAM, NC - FEBRUARY 09: Harrison Barnes #40 of the North Carolina Tar Heels throws the ball in bounds against the Duke Blue Devils during their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 9, 2011 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Gett

Home of: The Duke Blue Devils

Nickname: Coach K Court

Capacity: 9,314

Home record: 14-0

Cameron Indoor is one of the most exclusive venues in sports. With a capacity just over 9,300, it is no surprise that kids have to camp out for the chance to watch a game there.

The fact that the Blue Devils always seem to win at Cameron should also not be a surprise. Coach K has built a great program and Cameron Indoor is the perfect venue for them.

1. Qwest Field

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SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 08: Kelly Jennings #21 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates the Seahawks 41-36 victory against the New Orleans Saints during the 2011 NFC wild-card playoff game at Qwest Field on January 8, 2011 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto

Home of: Seattle Seahawks

Capacity: 67,000

Home record: 6-3

The Seahawks have one of the biggest home-field advantages in Qwest Field. Qwest has unbelievable acoustics that make playing in Seattle a difficult task.

The stadium is so loud that it makes teams take special care. The crowd causes penalties in every game and they get a huge lift out of being able to cause that kind of distraction.