NCAAB: Eckel on the ACC - Virginia takes on Virginia Tech

Virginia (- 4.5) at Virginia Tech, 7 p.m.
The Pick: Virginia (- 4.5)

Virginia (22-2) got by what could have been a trap game against Notre Dame (it was in between top 10 teams Duke, UNC and Tech) and now take on its inter-state rival.

Unless it says “Duke’’ on the other team’s jersey (or maybe “UMBC”) the Cavs find a way to win. They beat the Hokies (20-8) by 22 earlier this season and being on the road shouldn’t be that tough of an assignment.

Virginia is 7-1 on the road this season, with the only loss to Duke, and has covered in every one of those, except, of course, to Duke.

Virginia Tech, while ranked No. 9, isn’t Duke. The Hokies are an impressive 12-1 at home, but are just 6-6-1 against the spread in Blacksburg. They are also just 2-3 against ranked teams this season.

A quick look at Tech’s 9-4 ACC record and you’ll see seven of the nine wins have come against the bottom of the league — Wake Forest, Pitt, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame and Miami.

Look for another tough defensive effort by the Cavs to keep the Hokies in the 50s and for the backcourt of Kyle Guy (15 points per game) and Ty Jerome (13 points, 5 assists) to control the game.