ACC Hoops Betting – Virginia Tech vs. #9 UNC

Virginia Tech Hokies (12-1 SU, 4-4 ATS) at No. 9 North Carolina Tar Heels (11-4 SU, 4-8 ATS)
Sunday, January 9: 7:45 p.m.

Here are some NCAA Betting Trends Which May Impact This Game:

Virginia Tech: 2-2 ATS on the road
Virginia Tech: Total has gone OVER in their last 4 games
North Carolina: 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games
North Carolina: 2-6 ATS at home

Coming off one of the most embarrassing losses in recent program history, the North Carolina Tar Heels will look to rebound against one of the ACC’s biggest surprises Sunday, the Virginia Tech Hokies.
North Carolina, stands at 11-4, which already the same number of losses they suffered in their National Championship season of a year ago.

On offense, they are one of college basketball’s most explosive teams, averaging 85 points per game. They are one of the nation’s biggest teams as well, as they have six players who are at least 6’10, all which can play. That is part of the reason they are ranked 3rd in college basketball in rebounding, at 44 per game.

Their top two scorers are frontcourt stalwarts; senior Deon Thompson and sophomore Ed Davis. The two combine to average over 30 points and 18 rebounds per game. Tyler Zeller adds a spark off the bench, with 10 points a contest. And Larry Drew leads this team, and the ACC, in assists with 6.2 per game. However, the Tar Heels have suffered recently without veteran Marcus Ginyard. Ginyard, a fifth year senior has missed the last three games and isn’t expected to play Sunday.

As for Virginia Tech, they have surprised many by jumping out to such a hot start. They are led by junior guard Malcolm Delaney, one of college basketball’s most underrated players. Delaney is averaging 19 points per game and also leads the Hokies in assists. He has been battling an ankle injury in recent weeks, and did not play in last Saturday’s win over Seton Hall. He is expected to play against the Tar Heels.
In this one, North Carolina will be looking for a signature win, after getting embarrassed Tuesday night against College of Charleston. In that game, they shot a paltry 38 percent from the field, and made just one 3-pointer.

That last statistic may be the most alarming, and one to be concerned about in this game. Last year North Carolina was a complete team, with contributions from Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green on the perimeter. This year, without Ginyard in the lineup, they are just not a threat from behind the arc. They were outscored 39-3 from the 3-point line Tuesday.

However, despite it, I expect the Tar Heels to rebound and win on Sunday. Yes Virginia Tech is 12-1, but other than the win over Seton Hall, they really don’t have a signature win to their credit. And without Delaney at 100 percent, don’t expect them to get one Sunday.

Look, these aren’t the North Carolina Tar Heels you’re used to seeing. They are skilled, but inexperienced, and still have a lot of work to do if they’re to be serious contenders in March. But with that being said, they don’t like getting embarrassed, which is exactly what happened on Tuesday. They will not let it happen twice in a row this weekend.

Take North Carolina, in this week’s college basketball betting odds.

Aaron’s Pick: North Carolina by 5