In Saturday’s action, the 21st-ranked Virginia Cavaliers (6-2, 2-0 ACC) face the Boston College Eagles (2-8, 0-4) at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Mass. for a 2 p.m. ET tip-off. Below, we analyze the Virginia-Boston College college basketball betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Rankings courtesy of Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
Virginia at Boston College: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 5:52 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Virginia -450 (bet $450 to win $100) | Boston College +333 (bet $100 to win $333)
- Against the spread/ATS: Virginia -8.5 (-110) | Boston College +8.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 131.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Virginia at Boston College: Three things to know
- Virginia polished off Wake Forest 70-61 on Wednesday, but they failed to cover the 14-point number at home. The Cavaliers have alternated covers and non-covers in each of their eight games to date, so a cover is coming here if you believe in those type of trends.
- Boston College has dropped eight of 10 games straight up, but they deserve a couple more wins. They lost 83-82 at Duke on Wednesday in a heartbreaker, and they lost by just three at NC State in a road game Dec. 30. They have dropped four games by five points or less.
- The Eagles are just 3-5 ATS across the past eight games, but they covered last time out as a 11.5-point underdogs at Duke. They haven’t covered consecutive games since their first two outings of the season, a loss against Villanova and a win over Rhode Island on neutral floors. They are 0-3 ATS on their home floor this season.
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Virginia at Boston College: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Virginia 75, Boston College 64
Money line (ML)
Virginia (-450) is a more than likely going to come away from Conte with a road victory, but Boston College (+333) had a near-miss at Duke as huge underdogs, and that should serve as a cautionary tale on why you never risk big money for such a small return. Just look to the spread instead. PASS.
Against the spread (ATS)
VIRGINIA -8.5 (-110) is a well-disciplined team, and they should grab this road cover whether or not G Casey Morsell (undisclosed) is able to suit up. The Hoos are an impressive 28-12-1 ATS in the previous 41 road games, and the road team has covered in six of the past eight meetings between these schools, too.
Over/Under (O/U)
OVER 131.5 (-115) is the play, although Over bets and Virginia basketball is always a risky proposition. They just play such a deliberate style and it’s nerve-wracking getting involved in Overs with UVA.
The Over has connected in seven of the past eight for Boston College, however, and even the sloth-like Cavaliers defense should be able to rack up a healthy number of points against the very giving Eagles.
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