The No. 4 Virginia Cavaliers (+1,000 to win the national title) are still undefeated up to this point of the season. The Clemson Tigers (+12,500 to win the national title) have a shot to add blemish to the Cavs’ record, but of course, that’s going to be easier said than done. The Virginia game is the last leg of a hellish three-game stretch for Clemson, which is looking for its first win against a ranked opponent this season.
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Betting Preview for the Virginia Cavaliers vs. Clemson Tigers College Basketball Game on January 12, 2019
Where: Littlejohn Coliseum, Clemson
When: Saturday, January 12, 2019, 12:00 PM ET
Line: Virginia Cavaliers (odds) vs. Clemson Tigers (odds) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ACC Network
Betting on the Virginia Cavaliers (13-0 Overall / 1-0 Conference)
Barring a disaster on Wednesday against the Boston College Eagles on the road, the Cavaliers should arrive in their game with Clemson this coming Saturday still undefeated. Before taking on the Eagles, Virginia whipped an experienced and ranked No. 9 Florida State Seminoles at home, 65-52. It was a huge win, one that sends across a strong message across the league that the Cavaliers are going to be a force to reckon with for the rest of the season. Clemson is going to be a tough customer for Virginia, especially on the road, but there’s barely anything that’s been too big of a problem for the Cavs’ defense that limits opponents down to only 51.5 points per game – the best in the nation. Their opponents are shooting a mere 37.4 percent from the field and a horrendous 24.8 percent from the three-point region. Tony Bennett has prepared his boys to make their opponents bleed for points by forcing them to take bad and out-of-rhythm shots because of the team’s vaunted pack line defense.
The Cavaliers are 3-0 against the spread (ATS) in their last three road games against Clemson.
Betting on the Clemson Tigers (10-4 Overall / 0-1 Conference)
Clemson has a date with Syracuse Orange on the road before their meeting with Virginia at home, but one thing is sure: that they have already gotten past the hardest test of the season. Last Saturday the Tigers lost to the No. 1 Duke Blue Devils in Durham, 87-68. The Tigers lost that game in part because they weren’t able to handle Duke’s pressure defense well. They committed 18 turnovers to just 12 by Duke. They were also outrebounded, 40-36, but they should fare better on the glass against Virginia. Clemson is averaging 35.8 rebounds per game, while the Cavs collar 34.7 per contest. That’s not a large margin, but if Clemson could control the board and get plenty of offensive rebounds, they can tire out Virginia’s defense that feeds off of missed shots. Marcquise Reed leads the Tigers with 19.6 points per game. Virginia is surely going to have a target on his back, so the likes of Shelton Mitchell (13.6 PPG) and Elijah Thomas (13.6 PPG) should take the pressure some pressure off Reed’s shoulders on offense.
Clemson is 2-0 ATS in its last two home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Virginia wins, 74-63
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