Free Betting Picks – Go With #24 VA Tech to Cover as Slight Dogs vs. Clemson

One of the free betting picks that I’m handing out for the weekend is on the Virginia Tech Hokies to cover the spread as a slight road underdog versus the Clemson Tigers on Saturday, March 5.

Virginia Tech has to find a way to get back on the winning side of things since they lost to Boston College on the moneyline in their last game as a home favorite.  Clemson already has 10 losses on their record.  They need to beat VA Tech convincingly on Saturday in order to garner attention from the NCAA Selection Committee.

#24 Virginia Tech Hokies (19-9) at Clemson Tigers (19-10)

Where:  Littlejohn Coliseum, Clemson, South Carolina
When:  March 5, 2011 at 9:00 pm EST
TV:  ESPN2

Likely NCAAB Betting Lines

Virginia Tech Hokies                +2 ½ -110       O 135 ½ -110             
Clemson Tigers             -2 ½ -110        U 135 ½ -110

Check out some trends for this game.

• The Virginia Tech Hokies are 3-2-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
• The Virginia Tech Hokies are 4-4-1 ATS in their away games this season.
• The Clemson Tigers are 4 and 8 ATS at home this season.
• The Clemson Tigers are 2 and 4 ATS in their last 6 games overall.

The Virginia Tech Hokies make my free betting picks list because I believe that they are just a better team than Clemson.  Before analyzing the first game between these two, it’s important to note that VA Tech has been interestingly good versus top notch competition this season.

Going all the way back to December 1 last year, the Virginia Tech Hokies took the Purdue Boilermakers into overtime in a 55 to 58 loss.  The Hokies also lost by only 3 points to North Carolina in January, 61 to 64, in Chapel Hill.  They beat Maryland 74 to 57 in Maryland and then, on Feb. 26, the Virginia Tech Hokies shocked the basketball world.  Okay, it wasn’t a huge shock, but it was still a shock. 

The Hokies upset the Duke Blue Devils 64 to 60 as +4 point home dogs.  In that game, VA Tech shot only 39.1% from the field, but they held the Dookies to 39.7% from the field and they out rebounded Duke 42 to 35.  It was an awesome victory for VA Tech.  The loss to Boston College, a 61 to 76 drubbing as -8 ½ point favorites, ensued in their next game and now the Hokies take on the Tigers in Clemson on Saturday.

Virginia Tech has a knack for playing well in big games.  Saturday’s game against the Clemson Tigers is a big game.  That’s the main reason that I’m putting VA Tech on my free betting picks list.  Another reason that I like the Hokies to cover the spread so much is the fact that they took apart Clemson the last time the two teams faced each other.

Virginia Tech dominated Clemson 70 to 59.  What hoops handicappers should note about that game is that Virginia Tech only outscored Clemson by 2 points in the first half, 29 to 27, before taking apart the Tigers in the second half, 41 to 32.  Virginia Tech made the necessary half time adjustments in order to put a beat down on the Tigers.

I don’t see things changing much on Saturday.  Virginia Tech is a solid team that averages over 70 points per game while allowing only 63 points per game from their opponents.  They should cover the spread versus Clemson on March 5. 

NCAA Odds Betting Pick:  Virginia Tech Hokies ATS