ACC Basketball Weekend Betting Preview: Dec 6-8

After the league fell flat in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, the squads get no relief as they go right into the second week of ACC play. Three days of ACC gives us plenty of action. Lines won’t be out for the Saturday and Sunday games until later, so we’ll just go off Ken Pom until then. Let’s go.

Duke Blue Devils @ Virginia Tech Hokies
KP: Virginia Tech +5, O/U 139
Vegas: Virginia Tech +7, O/U 143

Even after Duke was able to handle Michigan State in East Lansing on Tuesday night, the Hokies are a trendy pick to spring the upset. I don’t see it. Beating the Spartans in Maui says more about Michigan State than it does about Virginia Tech. Given time to prepare and scout, the small-ball lineup shouldn’t give Duke any trouble. Vernon Carey should have no problem getting his and Duke shouldn’t have any program even on the road.

Pick: Duke -7

Pittsburgh Panthers @ Louisville Cardinals
KP: Louisville -14, O/U 124
Vegas: Louisville -12.5, O/U 129.5

In what will be a matchup of two of the slowest teams in the ACC, a lot can be gleaned by looking at how Pitt has performed in spots like this over the last couple years. Look no further that the Panther’s performance against Virginia in recent years. When you do that you’ll see that the under should be pretty easy to attain. Unless Louisville goes buck wild the low 120’s will be as high as this game goes.

Pick: Under 129.5

Syracuse Orange @ Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
KP: Georgia Tech -4, O/U 130

Ok, maybe picking Nebraska was a bad idea, but the story holds fading Georgia Tech. However what are we to do when the team coming to Atlanta is Syracuse. Honestly, I think we’re getting a little closer line thanks to Georgia Tech’s win over Nebraska and Syracuse loss to Iowa. Syracuse can bounce back for the win, but the points are nice too.

Pick: Syracuse +4

Boston College Eagles @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish
KP: Notre Dame -12, O/U 134

I take back everything I said about Boston College earlier this week. Nik Popovic and Derryck Thornton might not be as good as I had hoped. I loved the Eagles last year, but Ky Bowman isn’t coming through that door. Their defense isn’t half bad, but their offense is. Notre Dame can score, but they’ve also been solid slowing teams down and keeping the score low.

Pick: Under 134

North Carolina State Wolfpack @ Wake Forest Demon Deacons
KP: Wake Forest +1, O/U 145

I’m not sure why this line is only NC State by 1. They looked pretty good against Wisconsin while Wake Forest (unsurprisingly) got trounced by Penn State. However, I’ve seen this movie before and this is the exact spot where NC State lays an egg. I guess I’ll feel pretty dumb Saturday night when it plays out that way and I’m on the Pack.

Pick: NC State -1

Clemson Tigers @ Florida State Seminoles
KP: Florida State -11; O/U 131

Florida State gonna Florida State, right? Look like they have the makings of a top-15 team in the country and get blown out by Indiana. Right, got it. Clemson may be the worst team in the ACC though, so expect Florida State to bounce back.

Pick: Florida State -11

North Carolina Tar Heels @ Virginia Cavaliers
KP: Virginia -6; O/U 116

And now to the main event. Who would have ever thought these two would enter this game coming off losses where they fell by a combined 54 points. The only question is which one is worse. I’m going to put on my orange and blue glasses for a minute and say I’m much less worried about Virginia than I am North Carolina. But seeing as I wasn’t high on the Heels to begin with, I’ll stop short of saying I’m surprised. Cole Anthony is fantastic, but he can’t do it alone. Furthermore, Virginia has an ability to slow down a teams best player and make his teammates beat them. Without Armando Bacot, Virginia can check Anthony just enough to keep the Tar Heels from scoring. Once you add in the fact that Virginia can’t figure out how to put the ball in the hoop either, and this game has all the makings of an under.

Pick: Under 116

Season Total: ATS (7-9), O/U (0-4), Total (7-13)