The Cavaliers have a 5-0 spread record in their last five games
away from home. Tony Bennett’s troops head south for Thursday’s matchup
against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, who are 2-1 ATS in their last three
contests as underdogs.
Sportsbooks opened Virginia as a four-point favorite; with the
number remaining unchanged after early betting action was mixed. NCAA
basketball odds makers expect a low-octane affair between the Atlantic Coast
Conference rivals, setting the ‘total’ initially at 111.
Cavaliers edged out at Duke
Virginia saw its 12-game winning streak end in last Thursday’s 61-58
setback as a 10 ½-point road dog against the Duke Blue Devils. The
Cavaliers were held to 39.3 percent field shooting, including a 3-for-16 day
beyond the arc.
Cavaliers forward Mike Scott notched team-highs of 23 points and
nine rebounds, while adding one steal. Scott’s mates Sammy Zeglinski and
Jontel Evans united for 11 assists en route to scoreless outings, shooting a
collective 0-for-14 from the field.
The tight battle’s combined 119 points dipped below the ‘total’ of
128 ½, bringing the ‘under’ to 6-0 in the Cavaliers’ last six ‘board’
games. Virginia allowed Duke to connect at 52.2 percent from the field,
while outrebounding the Blue Devils, 34-27.
Jackets fall in College Park
Georgia Tech logged its fifth loss in six games with Sunday’s 61-50
defeat as a 1 ½-point road dog against the Maryland Terrapins. Both
squads combined to shoot 33.6 percent from the field, while uniting to sink
28-of-34 free throws.
Yellow Jackets forward Kammeon Holsey logged 11 points, making him
the sole member of his squad to reach double figures. Georgia Tech’s Nate
Hicks equaled his season-high of seven boards off the bench, while adding one
of his squad’s nine blocks.
The contest’s combined 111 points plunged below the ‘total’ of 134
½, cashing
‘under’ tickets for my followers. Georgia Tech connected 3-of-17 from
beyond the arc, while being edged out in rebounds, 36-31.
Back the Cavaliers as road ‘chalk’
Thursday’s tip is scheduled for 8 p.m. (ET), with ESPN3. com
providing television coverage.
This sports betting handicapper is backing Virginia, laying the points at a low
premium in this road spot. The Cavaliers have given up a stingy 50 PPG in
five contests as road and neutral-site ‘chalk.’
Virginia’s Mike Scott has held his own on the other side of the
floor, ranking fourth in the ACC for both scoring (16.9 PPG) and field shooting
(58.8 percent). Scott’s mate Jontel Evans has logged 3.6 APG, making him
one of the conference’s top-five contributors.
The Cavaliers have also been one of the ACC’s top squads from the
foul line, connecting at 72.9 percent. With the duel shaping up to have points
at a premium, a late fouling fest between the rivals should give Virginia an
edge in knocking down free throws to get the pointspread cover.
Georgia Tech’s home-court edge has not given the team much help as
the Yellow Jackets rose in class against visiting opposition. Brian
Gregory’s crew has been lit up for 76.6 PPG in its last three ‘board’ contests
at home, while mustering just 60.7 PPG of their own in that span.
Virginia is 4-0 ATS in its last four meetings against the Yellow
Jackets, including last season’s 62-56 victory as a 5 ½-point road dog.
Evans logged seven assists in that affair for the Cavaliers, while he and his
mates held Georgia Tech to 37.2 percent field shooting.
Look for Virginia to get the money again here with a sizable win
to erase thoughts of last week’s setback against Duke. The Cavaliers are
5-1 ATS in their last six contests that followed a defeat, while logging a 14-2
spread record in its last 16 road spots against teams with winning home
records.