Virginia -7.5 at NORTH CAROLINA ST., 7 p.m.
Pick: Virginia -7.5
What might be just as impressive as the Cavs’ 18-1 record this season is the fact they are16-3 against the spread. And a lot of those covers have come as double-digit favorites as well. They are also a perfect 10-0 in their last 10 games against the number.
It’s tough to give a home team seven-and-a-half points and the Wolfpack (16-4) is 12-1 at home this season, but they just haven’t looked the same as of late. NC State is 3-3 in their last six games and the three wins have come against Pitt, Notre Dame and Clemson, three teams that are a combined 4-17 in conference play.
Virginia’s No.1-ranked defense should keep the Wolfpack in check, while junior guard Kyle Guy (15.0) and sophomore forward De’Andre Hunter (14.7), a Philadelphia native, do enough to allow the Cavs to win by double figures.
North Carolina -10 at GEORGIA TECH, 7 p.m.
Pick: Under 149
I hate to lay double figures on the road, but I’m not going to go against the Tar Heels (15-4) in this one, either. So forget the line and go with the under.
All of a sudden Georgia Tech (11-9) is playing pretty good defense. They held Duke to a season-low 66 last Saturday and kept Notre Dame to 61 the game before that. The Yellow Jackets also have a tough time scoring the basketball. Their season average is 68 points per game, but their higher scoring games came earlier in the season against marginal non-conference foes. In their last four games they have scored 60, 51, 63 and 53.
Keep this in mind as well, the total has gone under in seven of North Carolina’s last nine games and in eight of its last 11 ACC games.
Expect another 60, or so, from Georgia Tech, which means North Carolina would need 90 for the total to go over. Don’t expect that.
Pitt +9 at CLEMSON, 9 p.m.
Pick: No bet
The ACC’s nightcap features two teams on the skids.
Pitt (12-8) has lost four of its last five, been blown out in three of the four, and has yet to win a game on the road this season. The Panthers are, however, 13-6 against the spread.
Clemson (11-8) has lost five of its last six and is 6-13 against the spread this season.
Stay away from this one.