We have a 7-10 matchup as the Florida Gators (14-9) take on the Virginia Tech Hokies (15-6) in Friday's Round of 64 showdown. This game features two roller-coaster teams desperately hoping to hit a Cinderella run at the perfect time. This game will have a lot of eyes on it as two big-name schools with large fan bases battle it out for the right to advance. Virginia Tech will be extra rested as this will be only their second game since Feb. 27 thanks to COVID-19. The question is, who will that favor more? Let’s continue our NCAA odds series and make a Virginia Tech-Florida prediction and pick.
Here is how the sportsbooks have set the odds:
NCAA Odds: Virginia Tech-Florida Odds
Virginia Tech Hokies pk (-110)
Florida Gators pk (-110)
Over 135.5 Points (-105)
Under 135.5 Points (-115)
Why Virginia Tech Could Cover The Spread
This is arguably the most rested team in the country. It's hard to tell if that will serve as an advantage for the Hokies, though. Following their little unwanted break before the ACC Tournament, Virginia Tech suffered a first-round loss to UNC. Since Jan. 30, Virginia Tech has only played five games, going 2-3 SU and 1-4 ATS. That is a rough break and a team that has clearly fallen victim to the effects of COVID. Before that rough stretch, this team was playing terrific basketball.
Virginia Tech started the 2021 season with a record of 13-3 SU and 10-6 ATS. Defensively, the Hokies finished within the top 100 in the nation in total score, field goal percentage, and rebounding. This team is capable of shutting down any team on any given night. They will never shoot the lights out of the gym, but they will smother you on the other end and create enough transition buckets to come away victorious. Hokies bettors will be banking on the added energy of the tournament being able to bring out the better half of this team that we got glimpses of back in January.
Why Florida Could Cover The Spread
Coming off of a devastating loss in the SEC Tournament to Tennessee, Florida is looking to bounce back in a big way in this matchup. The Gators will be playing with some added motivation as they've dedicated this tournament to their leader, Keyontae Johnson. Johnson was Florida's best player coming into the season. He unfortunately suffers from a devastating heart condition, which sidelined him for the rest of this season after he collapsed on the court in an earlier game. Thankfully for the Gators, Tre Mann has stepped up in his absence, averaging 16.0 points per game on the year and 23.5 points per game in his last four coming in.
The Gators will beat you up on the offensive end. They finished as a top-100 team in the country in many offensive categories, including field goal percentage, 3-point percentage, and free-throw percentage. High percentage shooting is what the team will need to come away victorious. If Mann can continue his recent successes and lead this group to a strong start, the Gators should coast to victory against a lackluster Hokies offense. The X-factor for Florida will be the play they get from their second unit.
Final Virginia Tech-Florida Prediction & Pick
This line is set at pick'em and rightfully so. You're better off picking out of a hat then trying to justify why either one of these teams will come away with a W. That's why I'm on the under. We know what Virginia Tech is capable of doing on the defensive end and we know that they will lean on that as they have in the recent past. Seven of the last 10 games for Virginia Tech have finished under the total. Seven of the last nine games for the Gators have also finished under the total. This game has potential to be sloppy, so if the Hokies can find a way to shut Tre Mann down, we should coast in this one.
FINAL PICK: Under 135.5 (-110)
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