#18 Virginia Tech vs #16 Florida State | 2021 NCAA Basketball Expert Analysis

The game of the day in the ACC is clearly from Tallahassee as No. 16 Florida State hosts No. 18 Virginia Tech, and the Seminoles will be solid favorites on the NCAAB odds as they just don’t lose at home. Both teams will be in the NCAA Tournament and both still have a shot at the ACC regular-season title.

How to Bet Virginia Tech at Florida State NCAA Basketball Odds & TV Info

• When: Saturday, noon ET
• Where: Donald L. Tucker Center
• TV: ESPN2
• Stream: ESPN app
• Radio: Tunein.com
• Opening NCAAB Lines: TBA (FSU will be favored)

Last Meeting

The schools were to meet at Virginia Tech on Feb. 9 but that was postponed due to COVID and won’t be made up. They played once last season and the Hokies won 74-63 at home. The Noles’ Devin Vassell (now in the NBA) tied an ACC mark by shooting 7 for 7 from 3-point range and scored 27 points. FSU grabbed a 60-44 advantage on a free throw by Trent Forrest with 9:25 remaining before the Hokies scored the next nine points. They cut the lead to 60-53 on a dunk by Nahiem Alleyne with 6:23 left, but got no closer. Virginia Tech made just 7 of 30 from beyond the arc against the Seminoles.

Why Bet on Virginia Tech? | 2021 NCAA Basketball Expert Analysis

Tech (14-4) hasn’t played since an 80-76 OT win at Miami on Feb. 6 – games vs. Florida State, Louisville and Tuesday at North Carolina were all postponed. As of this writing, this game is on.

Virginia Tech is 4-0 this season when shooting at least 50 percent from the field. Since coach Mike Young got to Blacksburg, the Hokies are 7-1 in contests shooting 50 percent or greater, with the lone loss coming to BYU on Nov. 27, 2019 in the fifth-place game of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational. Over the last decade (2010-11 season to present), Tech is 78-12 when shooting 50 percent or better.

The Hokies have four losses on the season, with three of those being blowouts (double-digit losses). In those three setbacks that got out of hand, Tech allowed its opponent to shoot better than 50 percent, with Penn State (50.0%), Syracuse (50.9%) and Pitt (50.0%) doing so, as well at Tech shot under 41 percent in each game.

In its other loss, a two-point game, 73-71, at then No. 25 Louisville, Tech let the Cardinals shoot 47.3 percent. But Tech was able to counter with being over the 40-percent mark (42.6%). Since Young to Tech, his teams have allowed seven opponents to shoot greater than 50 percent and he’s 1-6 in those games.

Virginia Tech remains a long shot to pass FSU and first-place Virginia and win the ACC regular-season title, but the Hokies do hold a tiebreaker with the Cavaliers after winning that matchup in Cassell Coliseum on Jan. 30. A victory over the Seminoles would give Tech the tiebreaker there, too.

Tech now has four ranked wins this season, tying the most-ever in school history (set 2017-18).

Why Bet on Florida State? | 2021 NCAA Basketball Expert Analysis

FSU (12-3) looked great Monday in an 81-60 home win over Virginia for the Noles’ 24th consecutive ACC home game — the second-longest streak in conference history.

Virginia shot 46.8 percent from the floor, while Florida State shot 50 percent. FSU led in rebounds (31-25) and fast break points (13-2). FSU went into the game averaging 14 turnovers per game and only turned the ball over five times. The FSU defense forced 14 turnovers (UVA averaged 9.8 going into the game) and had 21 points off those turnovers.

The Cavaliers suffered their largest ACC loss since losing 65-41 at North Carolina on Feb. 18, 2017. FSU’s 45 first-half points were most allowed by UVA in opening half since 48 at Tennessee (12/30/13). The victory was the Seminoles’ third of the season over a nationally ranked team and head coach Leonard Hamilton’s 76th career win over a nationally ranked team.

“Boom, that separation was there right away,” UVa coach Tony Bennett said. “And it was almost like cold water.”

M.J. Walker scored 17 points and pulled down six rebounds to lead Florida State, which has won seven of eight. Walker shot five of six (.833) from beyond the arc and six of 12 (.500) from the field. With eight Seminoles making at least one 3-point shot, Florida State made a season high of 13 from long range in its victory over the Cavaliers.

Only Duke from 1997 to 2000 has won more ACC home games consecutively (26) in the history of the ACC. The Seminoles also defeated No. 25 Florida (December 12, 83-71) and No. 20 Clemson (January 23, 80-61) in games played in Tallahassee earlier this season.

Expert College Basketball Prediction

Florida State 75, Virginia Tech 68

 

---

 

I have read enough, I need to place my bet now. What to do?

Bet College Basketball Today
MyBookie Odds for the Games

 

---

 

College Basketball Betting Center

---

---

College Basketball Odds | Online Bookies with Vegas Odds

---