Virginia Tech at Louisville Odds, Pick & TV Info

Huge game in the ACC on Saturday afternoon as Virginia Tech visits No. 8 Louisville. It’s big for the Hokies as they haven’t been to the NCAA Tournament in years but could all but clinch an at-large bid with the upset. The Cards, meanwhile, are still fighting for the ACC regular-season title. U of L will be solidly favored in NCAA basketball odds.

Virginia Tech at Louisville Odds, Expert Pick & TV Info

When: Saturday, Feb. 18, 1 PM ET Where: KFC Yum! Center, Louisville TV: ACC Extra Stream: WatchESPN Radio: Virginia Tech / Louisville Opening NCAAB Lines: Louisville favored by TBA

Why Bet On Virginia Tech?

The Hokies (18-7) got terrible news in last Sunday’s upset of Virginia when sophomore forward Chris Clarke went down with an injury – it turned out to be a season-ending torn ACL. Clarke collided with a Virginia defender with 9:49 left in regulation and had to be helped to the locker room. Clarke is fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 11.4 points per game, and leads the Hokies in rebounding at 7.3 rebounds per game. He also leads the team in steals with 30 and is second on the team in assists, with 79. But even without Clarke, Tech got a big win Tuesday over Pittsburgh, 66-63. Tech trailed Pittsburgh by 11 points with less than 13 minutes remaining. But the Hokies scored the final 7 points of the game and rallied to win. The Hokies improved to 5-1 this season in games decided by 3 points or fewer, including last Sunday’s 80-78 victory over ranked Virginia. A turning point in the Pitt game came with 9:07 remaining, when Ahmed Hill scored on a breakaway, was intentionally fouled, made one free throw and Tech got the rebound. Justin Bibbs made a three- pointer from the corner to give the Hokies their first lead at 53-52. “It was a great win,” said Seth Allen, who sank a 3-pointer with 1:08 left to give Tech the lead for good. “Resiliency is the word. … When we’re down, we don’t put our heads down. We kind of just stay even keel and we keep fighting. What that does is throughout the game, it just gives us confidence.” Hill led four Hokies in double figures with 17 points. Justin Robinson added 15 points and dished out a career-high- tying eight assists. Bibbs scored 11 points and Zach LeDay recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds. He also had three blocked shots. Although out rebounded 43-29, the Hokies committed just eight turnovers, while forcing the Panthers into 13 turnovers. Tech made 10 three-pointers and was 12-for- 15 from the line.

Why Bet On Louisville?

The Cards (21-5, 9-4) are off a 76-72 OT win at Syracuse on Monday, their fifth win in six games. U of L lost a seven-point lead with 4:26 to go, turning what should have been a less stressful victory into an exercise in what not to do when winning a close game. The Cards were 1 for 4 from the free-throw line and lost four turnovers in the final four minutes. And they were 9 of 15 from the line in overtime. Louisville did hold Syracuse, which had been one of the best shooting teams in the ACC, to an 8-of- 34 clip from 3-point range. John Gillon sent the game to overtime for Syracuse on a 3-pointer with 40 seconds to go in regulation that tied the score at 58. The Orange took a 63-61 lead on two free throws by Andrew White, but Louisville scored the next 10 points to take control and hold on. Donovan Mitchell scored 16 points, including 13 in the second half, and Quentin Snider added 14 to lead Louisville. In his last 13 games, Mitchell has averaged 18.8 points 4.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.2 steals and has made 37-of- 90 three-pointers (.411). Mitchell leads the ACC and is 16th in the nation in steals (2.2 per game). He is among the top 30 candidates for the Naismith Trophy for national player of the year. Louisville is 11th in the nation in field goal defense (.387), 11th in blocked shots (5.7 bpg), third in three- point field goal percentage defense (.283), 14th in scoring margin (+14.0) and 17 th in offensive rebounds per game (13.5). Louisville is one win away from 1,800 victories over its 103 seasons of collegiate basketball. U of L is 10th in the nation in all-time victories. Louisville leads 30-8 in its series against Virginia Tech, winning the last 11 matchups. U of L won 91-83 in last year’s meeting in Blacksburg, Va.

Virginia Tech at Louisville Expert Pick: Louisville Cardinals

Take the Cards in NCAA online betting.