A solid mid-afternoon game features the ACC Tournament champions as 11th-seeded Virginia Tech meets sixth-seeded Texas for a 4:30 p.m. ET tip-off in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It’s a game that fits a sound offensive team against a strong defensive team.
Virginia Tech (23-12) was projected to miss the tournament before beating Duke to win the ACC Tournament. Here they are, winners of 13 of their last 15 to get in. Texas (21-11) looks to end that run and advance after a year of disappointment.
The Longhorns opened as two-point favorites with an over/under of 125.5, but the line has shifted to Texas -1 with an over/under of 124 as of this writing. Both Virginia Tech and Texas are two of the slower-paced teams, so the total isn’t a slam dunk for an over.
Texas Longhorns Betting Preview: Score, stop, score
Texas has the ninth-ranked defense, allowing teams to score 59.5 points per game this season. The Longhorns have struggled offensively despite adding key transfers in Minnesota’s Marcus Carr, Utah’s Timmy Allen, and Creighton’s Christian Bishop. Allen and Carr each average double figures while rostered Longhorns Andrew Jones, and Courtney Ramey follow.
The Longhorns have really struggled offensively, though. They are 244th nationally in scoring at 68.6 points per game. They also are better in the paint, ranking 172nd in field goal percentage, converting 44.3% of shots versus 32.2% of 3-pointers (267th).
Texas has lost five straight against the spread and back-to-back games granted that was to Kansas and Baylor.
Virginia Tech Hokies Betting Preview: 3-and-D
The Hokies are one of the top teams in metrics. They are 18th defensively, holding opponents to 61.3 points per game. They also shoot 3-pointers at a 38.8% clip, which is sixth in the country.
But the biggest caution is the emotional week wearing off, and as Iowa was upset after winning the Big Ten Tournament, it may be a bad omen for the Hokies. Unlike Iowa, though, the Hokies are 13-2 over their last 15 games.
Virginia Tech went 12 deep to beat Duke. Typically the rotation is eight players but who have played in all 31 games. Keve Aluma averages 15.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, followed by Justyn Mutts at 10.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game.
Other guys have stepped up, though. Hunter Cattoor scored a career-high 31 points to beat Duke, and is a 40.6% 3-point shooter. Darius Maddox hit a game-winning 3-pointer, and Storm Murphy has found his rhythm.
Betting Prediction
Virginia Tech is 18-16-1 against the spread and 16-18-1 on over/unders. The Hokies are 7-6 in true road games and 5-2 in neutral-site games. Texas is 12-20 against the spread and 14-18 on over/unders while going 4-7 in true road games and 1-1 on a neutral court.
A win would secure a date with either Purdue or Yale, which play the game before theirs. A shocking upset of No. 2 Kentucky has the path to an Elite Eight wide open, too.
It’s hard not to ride the hot hand as Virginia Tech clearly plays for one another and has great chemistry. The Hokies should cover and win outright.
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