Sunday’s card features an ESPNU doubleheader for the final two
contests.
The pair of battles begins with the No. 17 Virginia Cavaliers
hosting the Virginia Tech Hokies in an Atlantic Coast Conference clash,
followed by the Drake Bulldogs visiting the Northern Iowa Panthers in a
Missouri Valley Conference matchup.
This sports betting handicapper is backing the road dogs in his NCAA basketball picks,
sensing Virginia Tech and Drake are each in spots to get the money.
Virginia Tech Hokies at No. 17 Virginia Cavaliers (-8, 113 ½) - 6
p.m. (ET)
Virginia notched its 10th win in 11 ‘board’ games with
Thursday’s 70-38 triumph as a 4.5 point road favorite against the Georgia Tech
Yellow Jackets. The Cavaliers improved to a 9-2 spread mark in that span,
giving a cashed ticket to my followers.
Virginia Tech has headed in the opposite direction, picking up a
fourth straight loss in Thursday’s 82-68 defeat as a 6.5 point home dog against
the North Carolina Tar Heels. The Hokies were held to 36.8 percent field
shooting, extending the team’s slide at the betting windows to 0-4 ATS.
Virginia is 3-0 ATS in its last three meetings with the Hokies,
while the ‘under’ has also collected at 3-0. The trio of pointspread
covers all came as an underdog each time out, with the Cavaliers now losing
some value as sizable home ‘chalk.’
Virginia Tech has played some close affairs as of late, with four
of its last five games decided by six points or less. The Hokies have not
been known for putting points up, but have the ACC’s top three-point shooter in
Jarell Eddie (50.8 percent) and have a pair of the conference’s top foul-line
threats in guards Erick Green (88.5 percent) and Dorenzo Hudson (87.9 percent).
Look for Virginia Tech to connect just enough buckets from beyond
the arc and charity stripe to get the cover in this spot, while a low-octane
rivalry plays out.
Selection: Virginia Tech plus the points
Drake Bulldogs at Northern Iowa Panthers (-9, 131) – 8 p.m. (ET)
Northern Iowa fell to a 0-3 spread mark in its last three games
with Wednesday’s 71-68 loss as a 2.5 point home dog against the Wichita State
Shockers. Panthers guard Anthony James notched team-highs of 16 points
and five rebounds, while mate Johnny Moran logged his squad’s sole two blocks.
Drake has surged the other way, recording its fourth straight win
in Wednesday’s 75-68 overtime victory as a 2.5 point road dog against the
Southern Illinois Salukis. The Bulldogs knocked down 7-of-16 three-point buckets,
while holding Southern Illinois to 39.7 percent field shooting.
Northern Iowa is 5-1 ATS in its last six matchups against Drake,
including an 83-68 win as 2.5 point road ‘chalk’ when the rivals met two weeks
ago. The Panthers hit 55.3 percent from the field, while outrebounding
Drake, 32-23.
Drake comes into Sunday’s rematch with its winning streak in tact, since
its setback against the Panthers, giving Mark Phelps’ troops some steam added
to its revenge. Bulldogs guard Rayvonte Rice ranks third in the MVC’s
scoring (17.3 PPG) and lit up Northern Illinois for 27 points last time out.
Bulldogs’ backers have cashed at 4-1 ATS in the team’s last five
games that followed a win, while Northern Iowa is 1-4 ATS in its last five home
contests. Look for Drake to stay within range here, building momentum to
this Wednesday’s matchup against the No. 18 Creighton Bluejays.
Selection: Drake plus the points from the NCAA basketball odds makers.