Virginia Tech Vs. Texas Odds, Picks, and Predictions (3/18/22)
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One of my most exciting matchups for round one is the game between #11 seed Virginia Tech and #6 Texas. Both of these teams are packed with talent and have made surprising wins throughout the season. Texas was enlisted in the top 25 teams nationally for most of the latter part of the season with their impressive offense. Virginia Tech surprised many after taking home the ACC title last week over Duke. This game is set to be one of the most exciting matchups on Thursday, March 18th. Tip-off is set for 3:30 PM CST and can be watched on TBS.
Virginia Tech Vs. Texas Betting Odds
Going into this matchup, the Texas Longhorns are still favored even with the large support for Virginia Tech. The spread is one of the smallest we have seen in round one, with -1 (-110) for Texas and -1 (-110) for Virginia Tech. However, the public has more faith in the Hokies, with 52% of March Madness brackets picking the upset. The momentum is in favor of the Hokies, which is crucial for any March Madness competition. Their moneyline is also marginal, with -105 for Virginia Tech and -115 for the Longhorns. Based on their recent performances, I think Virginia Tech can take the upset in the spread and the moneyline for a solid payout.
Virginia Tech Odds
With an ACC Championship title, the Virginia Tech Hokies ended their regular season on a four-game win streak. They are on a hot streak that I don’t see ending anytime soon. Of all lower-seeded teams, I think the Hokies have the best chance to go far in upset games. Their shooting ability is some of the best in the country, with 47% from the field and 39.3% from beyond the three-point line. Their long-range shot ability is the third-best in Division I basketball, and their perimeter offense is near impossible to stop. Keve Aluma and Justyn Mutts lock down the paint, both shooting 53% from the field. Aluma averages 15.8 points per game, and Mutts puts up 10.1 points per game. While they lock down the paint, Hunter Cattoor occupies the perimeter with 10 points a game and 41.8% from the three. This team is a force to be reckoned with and one of the most underrated teams in this tournament. I would most definitely not count them out and watch them move through the ranks of this tournament.
Texas Odds
The Texas Longhorns have been a solid team all throughout the regular season. They made great strides in the Big 12, landing them a fourth-place finish in the conference. At the end of their regular season, they began to slip to the competition of some of the best teams in the country, and their momentum has fallen. A three-game losing streak going into the Big Dance can be detrimental to any team. It’s the longest losing streak this team has had all year and may cause some trouble as they take on Virginia Tech. The Longhorns have one of the better forwards in Division I basketball, Timmy Allen, who has helped this team be successful. Allen averages 12.3 points per game and shoots 50.5% from the field. He’ll be up against Aluma and Mutts in the paint to fight for dominance which may slow his abilities. Marcus Carr and Andrew Jones will be the long-range shooters for the Longhorns and help add versatility to the team. Texas will need to keep their offense on lockdown if they want to advance onto round two and would need to assert their dominance in the paint; otherwise, their road to victory may be cut short.
Virginia Tech Vs. Texas Picks & Prediction
What’s very interesting about this games’ odds is the discrepancy between the overall spread and the spread for the end of the first half. Texas is favored to win the game, but Virginia Tech has a -1 (+100) spread at the end of the half. Texas is notorious for letting their first halves slip, so I think this bet offers a lot of potential. A parlay of Virginia Tech winning at the half and their moneyline has huge potential for payouts, and I think it has a lot of promise to hit.
My Prediction: Virginia Tech Wins 72-67, Virginia Tech Covers
March Madness Bracket
