We are entering the stage of the college basketball season when the conference games begin to dominate the nightly schedule. As is always the case, there are some conferences that are going to be tougher to navigate than others, with the ACC sitting very much at the top of the list. At this stage of the season, there are no less than 5 teams from that conference currently occupying the top 20 in the national rankings.
That said, there is only 1 team that is still unbeaten overall to this stage in the season, and just 2 teams that remain unbeaten in conference play. The Virginia Cavaliers are the team that fit both of those bills, while the Virginia Tech Hokies have just 1 loss on the season while remaining unbeaten in the early going in ACC Conference play. It goes without saying that something has to give with this one, making the already great in-state rivalry even more important than usual. It is the Cavaliers who are in as a 7 ½ point home favorite, with the point total set at 120 ½.
Virginia Tech vs Virginia NCAA Basketball Odds & Analysis
Starting on Feb. 20, 1915, @UVAMensHoops and @HokiesMBB have played each other 147 times. Their 148th meeting might be the most-anticipated matchup in series history: https://t.co/5qr779q1aN pic.twitter.com/VuEPdCzACk
— Jeff White (@JeffWhiteUVa) 15 de enero de 2019
- When: Tuesday, January 15 at 8 PM EST
- Where: John Paul Jones Arena, Charlottesville
- TV: ACC Network
- Radio: TuneIn
- Live Stream: Watch ACC
- NCAA Basketball Odds: Virginia Cavaliers -7.5 (Total 126.5)
Why bet on the Virginia Tech Hokies?
The Hokies took their lone loss of the season back in the early going, losing a tight 63-62 game to Penn State. From that point forward, Virginia Tech has been unstoppable, winning 9 straight games, which includes a perfect 3-0 record in conference play. While it has been a great run for the Hokies, it is worth remembering that the Hokies have yet to play a ranked team this season, although they have been more than deserving of their current #9 ranking.
The Hokies have been in as the underdog on 8 separate occasions on the road this season, going 4-4 ATS in those games. That carries over to their last 10 games overall, where they have gone 5-5 ATS. Both of the lined road games that the Hokies have played this season have gone UNDER.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 79.20
- Field Goal Percentage: 50.00
- Three-Point Percentage: 42.28
- Free Throw Percentage: 73.64
- Total Rebounds: 34.13
Defense
- Total Score: 57.33
- Field Goal Percentage: 39.49
- Three-Point Percentage: 32.19
- Free Throw Percentage: 65.19
- Total Rebounds: 29.07
Why bet on the Virginia Cavaliers?
The Cavaliers are coming into this game with a perfect 15-0 record, which includes a 3-0 record in conference play. Despite going perfect to this stage of the season, the Cavaliers are still just #4 in the national rankings, as their schedule is viewed as being a little less impressive than the teams sitting ahead of them.
Virginia is going to be a close one.” width=”900″ height=”300″ />
This is a team that has risen to the occasion in big games this year, winning all 3 of their meetings versus ranked teams, the latest of which was an impressive 65-52 win over the Florida State Seminoles. That win is not particularly surprising when you consider that this is the best defensive team in the nation, giving up just 51 PPG, and all while averaging close to 74 PPG on offense. The Cavaliers have covered in 9 of their last 10 games and are 6-2 ATS as a home favorite.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 73.80
- Field Goal Percentage: 47.42
- Three-Point Percentage: 39.81
- Free Throw Percentage: 77.21
- Total Rebounds: 35.87
Defense
- Total Score: 51.20
- Field Goal Percentage: 36.65
- Three-Point Percentage: 24.48
- Free Throw Percentage: 62.44
- Total Rebounds: 29.20
Virginia Tech vs Virginia NCAA Basketball Betting Trends
- 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 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
Expert Pick & Final Score Prediction for Virginia Tech vs Virginia
The stats would suggest that these two teams are not that far apart in class, and while that is certainly true, I think that the Cavaliers are just that bit better from top to bottom. I live the Cavaliers to win and the Hokies to cover.
Score: Virginia Tech Hokies 61 – Virginia Cavaliers 67
