The 4-seed Virginia Cavaliers (18-6) face the 13-seed Ohio Bobcats (16-7) at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind., Saturday for a 7:15 p.m. ET tip-off. Below, we analyze the Virginia-Ohio odds and lines, with March Madness NCAA Tournament picks and predictions.
Virginia didn’t lose a game in the ACC Tournament but also didn’t win the title. That’s because they had to pull out after its win over Syracuse due to a positive COVID test within the program, so their game against Georgia Tech was uncontested. A lot of people forget, but the Cavaliers are actually the defending national champion after cutting down the nets in Minneapolis in 2019, and March Madness was canceled due to the pandemic last season.
Ohio is hoping to avoid the same fate as Ohio State and Cleveland State, two teams bumped from the NCAA Tournament on Day 1. The Bobcats rolled up three wins and covers in the MAC Tournament, including an 84-69 win over Buffalo. In fact, OU scored at least 84 points in each game in the MAC tourney, while winning by an average margin of 14.7 PPG. They’re one of the hottest teams heading into the NCAA Tournament, going 9-1 SU/ATS across the past 10.
Virginia vs. Ohio: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:55 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Virginia -350 (bet $350 to win $100) | Ohio +260 (bet $100 to win $260)
- Against the spread/ATS: Virginia -7 (-110) | Ohio +7 (-110)
- Over/Under: 129.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Virginia vs. Ohio: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Virginia 71 Ohio 66
Money line (ML)
Virginia (-350) looks to begin what they hope is another long run into the NCAA Tournament. They bounced back and won it all last tournament after being the only No. 1 seed to ever fall to a No. 16 seed in 2018. Their slow-and-deliberate style means they likely won’t pile up a lot of points, and Ohio is a dangerous offensive team. An upset is certainly possible here, so AVOID.
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Against the spread (ATS)
OHIO +7 (-110) has the offensive weapons and up-tempo style to make noise in this NCAA Tournament, but unfortunately they have to face the slow and methodical defending champs. This one might look like an upset special early on, but Virginia -7 (-110) will show its championship mettle down the stretch, grinding out a one-possession win.
Over/Under (O/U)
OVER 129.5 (-115) and Virginia are two things that usually aren’t in the same sentence. But believe it or not, the Over is actually 5-1 across the past six games, and 4-1 in their past five games as a favorite. The Over is also 8-3 across the past 11 as an underdog for Ohio, too.
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