The No. 6 Baylor Bears (3-0) and 14th-ranked Virginia Cavaliers (2-0) meet in Las Vegas Friday at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Baylor vs. Virginia odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Rankings courtesy of the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.
With both teams being ranked in the Top 25 and with recent national championships, these 2 powerhouses feature one of the best matchups of the early season.
With the deliberate play of coach Tony Bennett’s Cavaliers mirrored by the up-tempo style of coach Scott Drew’s Bears, this is a game of contrasts. The team which can impose its will is the team that will come out with the W.
This 4-team tourney at T-Mobile Arena also includes No. 7 UCLA and 20th-ranked Illinois. Championship and consolation games are Sunday.
Stream select live college basketball games and full replays: Get ESPN+
Baylor vs. Virginia odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 4:41 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Baylor -230 (bet $230 to win $100) | Virginia +170 (bet $100 to win $170)
- Against the spread (ATS): Baylor -4.5 (-115) | Virginia +4.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 129.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Claim your risk-free bet up to $350. Catch the excitement and start betting with Tipico Sportsbook! New customer offer in CO and NJ. 21+, see Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. Bet now!
Baylor vs. Virginia picks and predictions
Prediction
Baylor 83, Virginia 72
Moneyline
PASS.
Baylor (-230) should prevail in this one, but the juice isn’t worth the risk.
Against the spread
BACK BAYLOR -4.5 (-115).
There is no recent history to go on between the 2 teams as this is their 1st meeting since 1968, however, the Bears seem to excel in these situations.
They’re 18-2 in their last 20 non-conference road and neutral-site games.
Virginia will try its best to slow Baylor down, but in the long run, the Bears will pull away late.
Over/Under
BET OVER 129.5 (-110).
Neither of these teams have played a game which cashed an Under ticket this season. They’re a combined 5-0 to the Over so far.
Baylor has scored a school-record 299 points in its first 3 games. While 100 points is not likely against Virginia, 80 is.
With Baylor shooting 3’s, including attempting 38 in its last game, a 95-62 win over Northern Colorado, Virginia will need to score in bunches to match. It may not win the game, but Virginia will also score. OVER 129.5 (-110) is therefore my FAVORITE PLAY.
Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
Want action on this basketball game or any other sports contest? Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, SportsbookWire’s official sportsbook partner in CO and NJ. Bet now!
If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW, or try out our USA TODAY Parlay Calculator. Please gamble responsibly.
Follow Dominick Petrillo on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:
Alabama / Arkansas / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Florida / Georgia / Iowa / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / USC / Wisconsin / College Football News
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1667]