The No. 11-seed Virginia Tech Hokies (23-12) meet the No. 6-seed Texas Longhorns (21-11) in the first round of the East Region Friday. Tip-off from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Virginia Tech vs. Texas odds and lines, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
The Hokies come into this game riding high off an ACC Championship where they defeated the Duke Blue Devils 82-67. Tech also had to beat UNC (72-59) and Notre Dame (87-80), programs seeded No. 8 and No. 11, respectively, in the NCAA Tournament.
It is led in scoring by F Keve Aluma with 15.8 points per game and currently ranks sixth in the nation in three-point field goal percentage (38.8).
Texas has been the opposite. It lost in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament 65-60 to TCU. However, it has impressive regular-season wins over Kansas (79-76) and Tennessee (52-51).
The Longhorns are led offensively by F Timmy Allen but are primarily a defensively-focused team that allows the ninth-fewest points per game (59.5) in the nation.
See also: Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports
Virginia Tech vs. Texas odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:37 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Virginia Tech +105 (bet $100 to win $105) | Texas -130 (bet $130 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Virginia Tech +1.5 (-108) | Texas -1.5 (-112)
- Over/Under (O/U): 123.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)
[tipico]
Virginia Tech vs. Texas odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Texas 62, Virginia Tech 60
Money line
LEAN to TEXAS (-130).
The Longhorns play a very slow and methodical pace, unlike what Tech saw in its last two conference games. They will meet the Hokies with a powerful mix of aggressive defense and steady offense.
Texas, per Kenpom, ranks 33rd in the nation in adjust offensive rating and 14 in adjusted defensive rating whereas Tech sits 18th and 52nd, respectively.
While Tech is riding high, its play against Duke is unsustainable and its win over North Carolina was more about the Tar Heels’ flaws. G Hunter Cattoor went 7-for-9 from deep as the Hokies shot 50% from the field to topple Duke, while UNC’s starting backcourt went 5-for-27 in that victory.
The Hokies are also getting major love with 67% of the betting tickets per pregame.com, yet just 62% of the cash is on Tech.
The battle-tested Longhorns, elite on both ends of the court, should be able to come out on top in this one if Tech (which it should) comes back to reality offensively.
Against the spread
PASS.
This projects as one of Friday’s closest battles, one reason I’ll stay away from the 1-point spread.
Over/Under
LEAN to UNDER 123.5 (-112).
Neither the Longhorns nor the Hokies want to run. They each rank outside the top 300 in adjusted pace and also each has a defense that ranks in the nation’s top 20 in opponents’ points per game.
Tech went under the projected total in seven of its last eight regular-season games. Texas is 14-18 O/U on the season and just 3-10 O/U in non-conference games.
The styles and season-long trends point to the UNDER 123.5 (-112), and that’s what I lean to here.
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