Hokies and Wahoos Should Have Close ACC Battle
The ACC will be kicking off Big Monday on ESPN at 7 p.m. The No. 4 Virginia Cavaliers will be on the road in Blacksburg to face the in-state rival No. 22 Virginia Tech Hokies. BetAnySports opened the Cavaliers as six-point favorites with the total set at 121.5. The line is now down the UVA -5.5 and the total is down to 119.5.
Virginia squeezed past Notre Dame 60-54 on Saturday as a heavy 16.5-point home favorite at BetAnySports. The Cavaliers improved to 22-2 straight-up with a 10-2 record in ACC play. Their only two losses this season came against No. 2 Duke. In mid-January on its home court as a 7.5-point favorite, Virginia hammered the Hokies 81-59 with the total going OVER the closing 123.5-point line. With the tight win against Notre Dame, the Cavaliers have failed to cover in four of their last five games with the total staying UNDER in four of those outings.
Kyle Guy scored 22 points in Saturday’s win and De’Andre Hunter added another 20 points with 10 rebounds. However, this is another win that can be chalked up to a Virginia defense that is ranked first in the nation in points allowed (54.4). Other than the two losses to Duke, the Cavaliers have not given up more than 65 points in any of their other 10 ACC matchups.
Can the Hokies Handle Virginia’s Pressure
The Hokies moved to 9-4 SU in conference play as part of an overall record of 20-5 with Saturday’s 70-64 victory on the road against Pittsburgh. That game ended as a PUSH on BetAnySports’ closing line. The total went OVER 130 points against Pitt and it has gone OVER in four of Virginia Tech’s last six outings. It is 13-11-1 ATS this season with a 7-6 mark against the closing number at home.
Virginia Tech turned to Kerry Blackshear on Saturday and he delivered with a season-high 29 points. Nickeil Alexander-Walker was held to nine points as the Hokies’ leading scorer this year (16.9 points) and guard Justin Robinson missed his fifth-straight start with a toe injury. Virginia Tech is averaging 75.4 PPG, but it has failed to reach that total in four of its last five games. The Hokies are another team with a solid defense that boasts a points-allowed average of 61.1.
I am looking for a much closer matchup this time around between these two bitter rivals. I still have Virginia getting the SU win, but I will take the 5.5 points and Virginia Tech to cover at home.
NCAA Hoops Betting Odds & Trends
| Virginia Cavaliers |
|---|
| Virginia is 14-5 ATS in its last 19 games |
| Virginia is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games |
| Virginia is 22-2 SU in its last 24 games |
| The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Virginia’s last 5 games |
| Virginia is 8-1 ATS in its last 9 games on the road |
| Virginia is 17-1 SU in its last 18 games on the road |
| The total has gone UNDER in 16 of Virginia’s last 21 games on the road |
| Virginia is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Virginia Tech |
| Virginia is 11-3 SU in its last 14 games when playing Virginia Tech |
| The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Virginia’s last 6 games when playing Virginia Tech |
| Virginia is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Virginia Tech |
| Virginia is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Virginia Tech |
| Virginia Tech Hokies |
|---|
| Virginia Tech is 1-3-1 ATS in its last 5 games |
| Virginia Tech is 20-5 SU in its last 25 games |
| The total has gone OVER in 7 of Virginia Tech’s last 10 games |
| Virginia Tech is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home |
| Virginia Tech is 13-1 SU in its last 14 games at home |
| The total has gone OVER in 5 of Virginia Tech’s last 6 games at home |
| Virginia Tech is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Virginia |
| Virginia Tech is 3-11 SU in its last 14 games when playing Virginia |
| The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Virginia Tech’s last 6 games when playing Virginia |
| Virginia Tech is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Virginia |
| Virginia Tech is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Virginia |
Next up:
Virginia at Louisville Saturday, February 23
Virginia Tech at Notre Dame Saturday, February 23
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