Virginia Tech vs. Florida State NCAAB Preview
Where: Donald L. Tucker Center – Tallahassee, Florida
When: Saturday, January 7, 2016, 2:00 PM ET
Line: Virginia Tech Hokies at Florida State Seminoles – view all NCAA basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ACC Network
Writer’s Pick: Florida State Seminoles
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Betting on the Virginia Tech Hokies (12-2, 1-1 ACC)
No. 21 Virginia Tech just suffered the mother of all letdown games. Four days after blowing out a No. 5 Duke team 89-75 at home to start ACC play, the Hokies were humiliated 104-78 at NC State on Wednesday. Virginia Tech was outrebounded 40-25, while its defense allowed the Wolfpack to shoot 64 percent from the floor.
Rebounding and defense have been particular weak points for the Hokies this season. They are 148th in scoring defense and 196nd in rebounding this season. But as they showed against Duke, they can score in bunches. They are averaging 83.7 points per game (26th in the country) and have a balanced offense that has seven players averaging at least 8 points per game.
Justin Bibbs, who’s averaging the fewest points of those seven at 8.2 PPG, led six Hokies in double figures with 18 points against Duke.
Florida State will next face Duke in a few days’ time, and could be in danger of looking past Virginia Tech. And with the Hokies likely to come out with a lot more intensity after their poor performance against NC State, they should be able to give the Noles a good fight in Tallahassee.
Betting on the Florida State Seminoles (14-1, 2-0 ACC)
No. 20 Florida State continued to prove its credentials as possible ACC contenders as it went into Charlottesville to beat No. 12 Virginia, 60-58. Dwayne Bacon delivered the offense for the Noles as he scored 29 points (11-18 FGs, 6-9 3PFGs) in just 28 minutes.
Bacon is having a sizzling hot start to conference play. He and Xavier Rathan-Mayes had 23 points apiece to lead the Noles to an 88-72 win over Wake Forest. Led by Bacon’s 18 points per game, as well as Rathan-Mayes and fab freshman Jonathan Isaac, the Noles are averaging 86.2 points per game this season, 15th in the nation.
They’re merely adequate on defense, and currently rank 97th in the country in scoring defense. But they have terrific length and athleticism throughout their lineup which can allow them to make some timely stops. Florida State has held its first two conference foes to just 40 percent shooting on 2-point shots.
Tallahassee has been an absolute fortress for Florida State against Virginia Tech. The Noles are 1-9 (3-7 ATS) in 10 all-time home games against the Hokies.
Writer’s Prediction
Florida State edges out a high-scoring affair, 84-81.
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