Two teams on a hot stretch are set to collide in Charlottesville this Saturday, as the No. 13 Virginia Cavaliers, also the top team in the ACC, will host the surging Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Check out our preview of this game below.
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Betting Preview for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs Virginia Cavaliers NCAA College Basketball Game on January 23 2021
Where: John Paul Jones Arena
When: Saturday, January 23, 2021, 8:00 PM ET
Line: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (+9) vs. Virginia Cavaliers (-9) – view all 2021 NCAAB lines
TV Broadcast: ACC NETWORK
Betting on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (+9)
Record: 7-3 Overall / 3-1 Conference
Georgia Tech remains hot even after the long layoff due to four games suspended because of COVID-19 issues. In their first game back since Jan. 3’s 70-54 home win over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, the Yellow Jackets took down the No. 20 Clemson Tigers at home on Jan. 20, 83-65. Georgia Tech is now 5-0 straight up in its last five games, and the win over Clemson adds to the legitimacy of the Yellow Jackets as a real threat not only in the ACC but in the entire college basketball landscape as well. The Yellow Jackets scored more points than their season average of 80.4 points in the Clemson game, and that’s saying a lot, considering that the Tigers have one of the best defenses nationally. That should boost Georgia Tech’s confidence heading into the matchup against another defensively stingy team in the form of Virginia.
Georgia Tech, which is also ninth overall with 9.3 steals per game, is 3-0 against the spread in its last three games overall.
Betting on the Virginia Cavaliers (-9)
Record: 9-2 Overall / 5-0 Conference
Interestingly, Virginia’s most previous game was also against Clemson. The Hoos took down Clemson on the road on Jan. 16, 85-60, before receiving news that their matchup against the NC State Wolfpack on Jan. 20 had been canceled. If anything, at least the Cavaliers enjoyed a longer rest time before taking on the Yellow Jackets this weekend. Virginia has been on a roll, too, having won all its last four games. It’s all about balance for the Cavaliers. Tony Bennett’s team is 10th in the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency and ninth in adjusted defensive efficiency. Virginia doesn’t score a ton of points on a per game basis, but it doesn’t allow the other side either to gain much ground offensively. Known to play at a snail’s pace game, Virginia is allowing just 59.4 points per game, fifth-best in Division I basketball. Opponents are also making only 21.3 baskets per contest. Against Clemson, Virginia limited the Tigers to only 0.86 points per possession.
Virginia is 3-0 against the spread in its last three games overall.
Writer’s Prediction
Virginia wins, 68-58.
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