Hokies vs. Tar Heels Prediction
Two ranked teams will battle tonight when the Virginia Tech Hokies play at the North Carolina Tar Heels. Can ninth-ranked Virginia Tech secure an upset win or will 13th-ranked UNC take care of business at home?
Game Snapshot
855 Virginia Tech Hokies at 856 North Carolina Tar Heels
Monday, January 21, 2019
Dean E. Smith Center at 7PM ET
TV: ESPN
Compare odds from multiple different online sportsbooks and shop for the best lines at our College Basketball Odds & Betting Page.
Public Betting Information
According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, the Tar Heels are a 4.5-point favorite on the spread line. The total is set at 147.5 points. As of Monday afternoon, 62 percent of public bets are coming in on host North Carolina. Check out our College Basketball Public Betting Page for the latest updates.
Hokies take down Demon Deacons
Virginia Tech moved to 15-2 overall and 4-1 in Atlantic Coast Conference action Saturday with an 87-71 home win over Wake Forest. Nickeil Alexander-Walker paced the Hokies with 24 points on 7-of-12 shooting including 3-of-7 from 3-point range plus 7-of-9 at the free throw line. He also tallied seven rebounds and four assists. Ty Outlaw registered 14 points plus three rebounds and two steals off the bench. Justin Robinson contributed 13 points, three assists, two boards and two steals. Ahmed Hill had 12 points and three rebounds. Kerry Blackshear Jr. added 11 points, four caroms and four blocked shots. Virginia Tech shot 29-of-51 from the floor, 11-of-26 from 3-point distance and 18-of-22 at the charity stripe. The Hokies led 43-32 at halftime before slowing down their pace.
Tar Heels roll past Hurricanes
North Carolina earned an 85-76 victory Saturday at Miami to improve to 14-4 overall and 4-1 in the ACC. The Tar Heels outscored the hosts 48-39 in the second half to pull away. North Carolina shot 33-of-60 from the field, 9-of-20 from 3-point distance and 10-of-14 at the free throw line. Cameron Johnson paced UNC with 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting including 5-of-7 from 3-point range plus 1-of-1 at the free throw line. He also had seven rebounds and two assists. Kenny Williams contributed 16 points, seven dimes and four boards. Coby White tallied 15 points, eight assists, five caroms and three steals. Luke Maye accounted for 14 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals. Nassir Little added 12 points, two rebounds and two steals off the bench.
College Basketball Betting Trends
Virginia Tech
The Hokies are 4-0 ATS in their last four Monday games. Virginia Tech is 0-4 ATS in its last four games overall.
North Carolina
The Tar Heels are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games overall. The home team is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings.
Prediction:
These two squads are very evenly matched with the Tar Heels being better defensively, but analytics show that Virginia Tech is ranked seventh nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency while the Tar Heels are 17th. I think the Hokies go basket for basket with the hosts tonight and continue their strong play from last game, where it missed covering the 17-point spread by only one point.
NCAA DAILY PREDICTION: VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES +4.5