Virginia vs Miami Betting Odds: Cavaliers Slight Road Favorites
Virginia Drops, Hurricanes Climb in Latest Poll
The No. 6 Virginia Cavaliers look to get back into the win column when they travel to face the No. 22 Miami Hurricanes Tuesday night. The Cavaliers are coming in off a tough loss to Houston. The Hurricanes have won seven straight games but Virginia has won the last six meetings between the two.
Game Information
Virginia (8-1) vs Miami (11-1)
Date, Time & Streaming:
Location: Watsco Center (Coral Gables, Florida)
Streaming: ACC Network
The Virginia vs Miami betting odds saw the Cavaliers open as 2-point favorites. The line has climbed slightly, with Virginia now 2.5-point favorites. The Cavaliers have been overpriced so far this NCAAB season, going just 3-6 against the spread and are on a five-game ATS losing streak. Miami is 6-6 against the spread this season.
The Miami vs Virginia betting odds on the total saw the number open at 135 and it’s now down to 132.5. The Cavaliers are 5-4 in totals this season, while the Hurricanes are 5-7. Both games between these two went over the total last year but the numbers were 125.5 and 126.
The Miami vs Virginia betting odds on the moneyline has also climbed slightly, with Virginia now -140. Naturally, both teams have been solid on the moneyline so far. The Hurricanes are undefeated at home, while the Cavaliers are perfect on the road.
Virginia Cavaliers Stick to Slowdown
Virginia CavaliersIt’s no secret what the Cavaliers are going to do, which is to slow the game down. The Cavaliers rank No. 361 in the NCAAB rankings for adjusted tempo. Only two teams play at a slower pace. But it’s hard to argue with the success the Cavaliers have had in recent years.
Virginia is actually a pretty good offensive team, which sometimes gets lost due to its style. The Cavaliers are averaging 70.9 points a game while playing teams that allow 67.5 points per game. Virginia ranks No. 11 in adjusted offensive efficiency. The Cavaliers don’t take as many shots as other ncaab teams but they score when they do. The Cavaliers don’t have any players averaging 12 or more points per game. But they do have five players averaging at least 9.3 points per game. The Cavaliers aren’t the deepest team around and get good use from its top seven players.
Defensively, Virginia allows 59.1 points to teams averaging 75.1 points. The team ranks No. 28 in adjusted defensive efficiency, so their style helps keep points to a minimum. The Cavaliers don’t force a lot of turnovers but they don’t send teams to the foul line.
Miami Hurricanes Offense Carries the Team
Miami HurricanesThe Hurricanes are a better offensive team than they are on defense. Miami is scoring 79.0 points against teams allowing 67.5 and is No. 12 in adjusted offensive efficiency. The ‘Canes shoot the ball well from inside, connecting on 57% of 2-point attempts, which is No. 20 in the country. Miami is a good foul-shooting team and gives themselves second chances. The Hurricanes rank No. 37 in offensive rebounding percentage. The ‘Canes are led by Isaiah Wong’s 16.7 points per game and have four players averaging double digits. Nijel Pack, who missed Miami’s last game is expected to play against the Cavaliers.
Miami is better than average on defense, allowing 68.3 points to teams scoring 70.3 points. The Hurricanes rank No. 124 in adjusted defensive efficiency, where they can give up too many offensive rebounds. Miami is No. 289 in opponents offensive rebounding percentage. Miami’s defense has risen to the occasion when needed, as the Hurricanes are 3-0 when scoring less than 70 points.
Who Has the Advantage?
The Virginia Cavaliers have played the tougher schedule of the two teams, with last game against Houston helping in that regard. Virginia has played the 43rd-toughest schedule, according to the Sagarin college basketball rankings. The Hurricanes are at No. 188.
The Virginia vs Miami betting odds could be reading a little too much into the Cavaliers’ loss to Houston last game. The Cavaliers missed a few good 3-point attempts they typically make. Virginia shot just 27.3% on 3-pointers against the Cougars, well below its season average of 38%. The Hurricanes are solid at defending the 3-pointer themselves, allowing 31.6%.
The Hurricanes have been solid underdogs the last three seasons, going 24-10 in that role. But Miami did lost its lone game as an underdog this season. The Cavaliers are just 1-5 as a favorite, which doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence for an away favorite.
The Virginia vs Miami betting odds on the moneyline are a bit steep for such a small favorite, so the best play looks to be the Cavaliers -2.5.
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