Virginia vs Furman Prediction, Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds and Picks
ACC Power Takes on No. 13 Seed
Will Injuries Cost Virginia Against Furman?
You don’t have to read the college basketball news to know that the Virginia Cavaliers have had some early NCAA Tournament stumbles in the past. They’re a No. 4 seed and are up against the No. 13-seeded Furman Paladins.
However, they’re only a 5½-point favorite, which signals that something might be off. The Cavaliers are without Ben Vander Plas, who was injured in the ACC Tournament. Can they overcome that loss against a Furman team that has won 14 out of their last 15 overall?
Also check on these NCAAB betting lines.
Virginia: Stellar Defense
The Virginia Cavaliers weren’t stellar offensively, to begin with, but now they have even more challenges. While there are three players on the roster that average over 10 points, none of them are over 13 points.
Now they’re without the three-point shooting of Vander Plas, who averages 7.4 points along with 1.1 threes. Fortunately, the Cavs don’t need all of that flashy scoring to win basketball games.
Those who bet online know that Virginia is one of the best defensive teams in the nation, ranking sixth overall in points per game (60.3).
The Cavaliers hold their opponents to 41.5 percent shooting from the field and 20.6 percent shooting from behind the arc. What’s interesting is that KenPom ranks them 25th in Adjusted Efficiency Rating, so maybe they’re not as strong as they appear.
If so, they could be in for a real test against Furman. Maybe the sports betting odds are telling us something here with a No. 4 seed being merely a 5½-point favorite.
Furman Aim for Offensive Showdown
The Furman Paladins are great offensively and will try to push the pace here. They rank eighth in the nation in points scored per game, averaging 82.1. If you’re making your march madness picks here, the question is which team will dictate the pace?
When you look at their roster, it’s easy to see why Furman’s offense cooks. The Paladins have four players averaging over 10 points, with Mike Bothwell leading the way at 18.0 points a night. This team is in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 20 years. We’ll have to see if nerves are a factor here. If they make this a run-and-gun game, though, they’ll have a reasonable chance to advance.
Virginia vs Furman Game Injuries
Virginia vs Furman Head-to-Head
These two teams have yet to meet up with one another this season, making this their first meeting.
Virginia vs Furman Game Information
- Game: Virginia (25-7) Furman (27-7)
- Location: Amway Center, Orlando, FL
- Day/Time: Thursday, March 16, 12:40 p.m. ET
- Virginia vs Furman Live Stream: TBS.com
Virginia vs Furman Betting Lines
Virginia vs Furman Picks and Prediction
The spread in the sportsbook seems to make it a little difficult to trust Virginia. While they do have a stellar defense, the Cavaliers’ offense might lag a little behind in comparison.
It’s going to be one of those classic matchups of great offense meeting great defense. Roll with the Paladins in this one. It’s hard to see them lose by more than five points.
In terms of college basketball lines, the Paladins have covered nine of their last 11 against teams with a winning record and have a great opportunity to cover one more time here.
Virginia is listed at -235 in our Vegas lines. So, if you wager $100 on the Cavaliers, there’s a chance to win $43. Furman is +195 with a chance to win $195 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Paladins a 33.90% chance to win, with the Cavaliers at 70.15%.
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