Early ACC Top-Ten Matchup
The Virginia Tech Hokies and the Virginia Cavaliers will meet on Tuesday at John Paul Jones Arena. Virginia hasn’t broken much of a sweat while beginning ACC play with three straight wins for the second straight season. They are using its trademark recipe of precision offense and suffocating defense. The 7th-ranked Hokies look to have something to say about that one tonight. This is the 148th meeting in what is called the “Commonwealth Clash”. Tonight will mark the first time that both teams enter the “Clash” ranked inside the top 10.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Raycom Sports LINE: Virginia -7.5; O/U: 125.
The Cavaliers are the Division I leader in fewest turnovers per game, at 8.9, and scoring defense, allowing only 51.2 points per game. Virginia is coming off decisive road victories over Boston College and Clemson. The scores were 83-56 and 63-43, respectively. They have yet to play a game closer than 13 points during ACC play. The Cavaliers return home in hopes of avenging their only regular-season conference loss from a season ago, a 61-60 overtime defeat to the Hokies on Feb. 10. They then travel to No. 2 Duke this weekend. Virginia Tech matched its best start to a season since 1982-83 with Wednesday’s 52-49 road victory over Georgia Tech. They are the nation’s second-best 3-point shooting team. They survived an 18.5-percent effort beyond the arc to earn its ninth straight win.
This, That and a Dart Throw
Virginia Tech is 14-1 on the season overall and 3-0 in the ACC. The Hokies are one of only six Division I teams with four players averaging 12 points a game. Leading scorer Nickeil Alexander-Walker is scoring at a 17.8 pppg clip, 4.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.2 steals. He was named to the mid-season Top 25 watch list for the Wooden Award. Kerry Blackshear Jr. has averages of 14.1 points, 6.2 boards. He posted his second double-double of the season and is averaging 18.3 points and eight rebounds during conference play. Justin Robinson, chips in 13.1 points, and ranks second in the ACC in assists at 5.8 apg. He needs only 18 more to tie Bimbo Coles with 547 assists for the most in school history. Ahmed Hill is averaging 12.7 ppg is one of five Hokies shooting at least 42 percent from 3-point range
Virginia is 15-0 on the season and 3-0 in the ACC. Kyle Guy averages a team-high 15.3 ppg, but struggled offensively against Clemson. He was 5-for-15 from the field, including 3-for-9 beyond the arc. He still hitting at a 46-percent clip behind the arc. Jay Huff, is a 7-1 sophomore who averages only 4.8 points and 2.6 rebounds a game. He may be coming into his own. He made his impact felt for the second time in four games Saturday. He finishing with 11 points, seven rebounds and a block in only 10 minutes court time. Virginia has held seven opponents below 50 points, while Virginia Tech has done so five times.
PREDICTION: Virginia 65, Virginia Tech 60.
ACC Basketball Betting Odds & Trends
| Virginia Tech Hokies |
|---|
| Virginia Tech is 10-5 ATS in its last 15 games |
| Virginia Tech is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games |
| The total has gone UNDER in 19 of Virginia Tech’s last 25 games |
| Virginia Tech is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games on the road |
| Virginia Tech is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road |
| The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Virginia Tech’s last 9 games on the road |
| Virginia Tech is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Virginia |
| Virginia Tech is 3-10 SU in its last 13 games when playing Virginia |
| The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Virginia Tech’s last 5 games when playing Virginia |
| Virginia Tech is 5-10-1 ATS in its last 16 games when playing on the road against Virginia |
| Virginia Tech is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Virginia |
| The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Virginia Tech’s last 5 games when playing on the road against Virginia |
| Virginia Cavaliers |
|---|
| Virginia is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games |
| Virginia is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games |
| The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Virginia’s last 8 games |
| Virginia is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games at home |
| Virginia is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home |
| The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Virginia’s last 6 games at home |
| Virginia is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Virginia Tech |
| Virginia is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games when playing Virginia Tech |
| The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Virginia’s last 5 games when playing Virginia Tech |
| Virginia is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Virginia Tech |
| Virginia is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Virginia Tech |
| The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Virginia’s last 5 games when playing at home against Virginia Tech |
Next up:
Virginia Tech home to Wake Forest Saturday, January 19
Virginia at Duke Saturday, January 19
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