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Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks!
Understanding Public and Money
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Expert Picks
Following a needed get-right game against moribund N.C. State, the struggling Cavaliers now need another victory to guarantee a winning record in ACC play. I think they will get one Monday night against North Carolina. The Tar Heels could be in a look-ahead spot in advance of their season-finale rematch with rival Duke, and they have struggled in Charlottesville in recent seasons. A 24-point loss to the Tar Heels was the rock-bottom point of what has devolved into a disappointing year for Virginia. But a win here would change the tenor to an upbeat one as we head toward March.
Virginia finally got its offense on track in Saturday's 70-55 win at NC State to end a four-game slide, but let's not get carried away. The only thing we can rely on with Virginia is a good defensive effort, especially at home where it allows opponents to shoot only 36.7 percent from the field. This angle should provide another opportunity to see Virginia stay Under the total, as it has in its past four games. At the same time, UNC's defense has improved and gone 7-1-1 to the Under in its last nine games. Under is the top play here.
Tar Heels games usually wind up between the mid-150s and the 160s. How can this rock-bottom total for UNC be ignored? The public is relying on their last meeting, when only 106 points were accumulated, in driving down this total from its original 132. Well, thank you very much. UVA “exploded” for 70 points Saturday. If the Cavaliers stay (relatively) hot, UNC should play its part by exploiting a tough defense it confronts for the second time.
Yes, the Cavaliers ended their four-game skid and shot the lights out Saturday against NC State. But before that they had been struggling mightily against quality teams. UNC can clinch an outright ACC regular-season title Monday night. I'm on the Tar Heels, who whipped UVA by 24 points nine days ago.