The Pittsburgh Panthers are scraping the bottom of the ACC standings, thanks to them suffering the longest losing skid in the conference that is still going. They have another shot at ending that disastrous stretch at home this weekend against the visiting No. 22 Virginia Tech Hokies (+5,000 to win the national title), who are also looking to get back in the win column.
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Betting Preview for the Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Pittsburgh Panthers College Basketball Game on February 16, 2019
Where: Petersen Events Center, Pittsburgh
When: Saturday, February 16, 2019, 4:30 PM ET
Line: Virginia Tech Hokies (odds) vs. Pittsburgh Panthers (odds) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Virginia Tech Hokies (18-5 Overall / 7-4 Conference)
For the first time this season, the Hokies have suffered consecutive defeats after falling prey to the Clemson Tigers on the road last Saturday, 59-51. Prior to that, Virginia Tech absorbed a 72-64 home loss to No. 16 Louisville Cardinals. The Hokies was horrendous on offense against Clemson, going just 10-for-34 from inside the arc and 5-for-19 from behind it. It was an uncharacteristic offensive performance for the Hokies, who are still fifth in the conference in adjusted offensive efficiency with 108.7 points per 100 possessions and are averaging 75.6 points per game on 48.6 field goal percentage. Their offense, however, are trending downwards, as the team is putting up just 54.0 points over the last three games. That can be partly attributed to the absence of second-leading scorer Justin Robinson, who is out indefinitely and has missed the last three games due to an ankle injury.
The Hokies are 12-10 against the spread (ATS) overall this season.
Betting on the Pittsburgh Panthers (12-3 Overall / 2-10 Conference)
The Panthers’ search for the light at the end of the dark, long tunnel they are currently in, as they have once again failed to arrest their losing skid. In their last outing, the Panthers took a 66-57 road loss to the Boston College Eagles, thus extending Pittsburgh’s winless streak to eight games. It’s not only their fans that the Panthers have let down over that span, as they have also managed to set their bettors back by failing to cover the spread in any of those games. Pittsburgh is near the bottom of the ACC’s offensive and defensive rankings, but the Panthers must do at least one thing right, right? And that’s the Panthers’ ability to draw fouls and get plenty of opportunities at the free throw line. In fact, they are tops in the conference in total free throws attempted and second in freebies made as of this writing. The Panthers are averaging 72.9 points per game and giving up 68.7 per contest.
The under is 3-1 in the Panthers’ last four home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Virginia Tech wins, 71-63.
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