NCAAB Pick: Virginia Tech +3½ (-105) at Heritage Sports (visit our Heritage Sports Review)
A couple of top-ranked teams take the floor on Monday, as well as the worst team in the country according to one set of rankings, and that’s why point spreads were invented to make them all equal in the eyes of the bettor.
Explore tonight’s matchups with our NCAAB odds and discover our best plays at the top-rated online sportsbooks.
Duke Blue Devils vs. Virginia Tech Hokies
Monday, January 29, 2024 – 07:00 PM ET at Cassell Coliseum
The first thing inquiring minds want to know about Monday’s matchup between Duke and Virginia Tech is whether the Blue Devils are bringing referees Lamar Simpson, Bert Smith, and Tommy Morrissey to Blacksburg with them.
Duke Owns 52-13 Stranglehold in Series
The second thing we need to know is where the sportsbooks have set the lines for the ACC clash, and most of the reputable shops are selling Duke -3½ with 146-146½ for the total.
This will be the only time the Blue Devils and Hokies get together this season, unless they happen to match up in the ACC Tournament or beyond. Duke and Virginia Tech split their season series last year, each winning and covering as small home chalk.
In the matchup at Virginia Tech, the Hokies needed a late bucket to get past the Blue Devils, 75-72, after leading by as many as 13 in the first half. The win was their fourth in the last five meetings at Cassell Coliseum.
Hokies Ending 3-Game Homestand
Games like last Saturday’s at Cameron Indoor Stadium are why conspiracy theories abound regarding Duke getting preferential treatment from the refs.
It’s safe to say that Simpson, Smith, and Morrissey will not be receiving any Christmas cards from Clemson faithful following some questionable calls/non-calls by the zebra trio late in the game.
Duke prevailed 72-71 thanks to late free throws by Tyrese Proctor, a controversial foul call prompting strong disagreement from Clemson’s Brad Brownell, along with players Chase Hunter and Joe Girard. The Tigers were looking to end a 20-game losing streak in Durham.
A 91-67 skate past Georgia Tech helped Virginia Tech grow its current win streak to 3. Favored by 9½ on the odds, Mike Young’s troops used a 10-0 spurt in the first half to pull away from the Yellowjackets, and shot better than 55% with five players in double figures.
The Pick
Virginia Tech’s winning ways at home in this series are tough to ignore, and I’ll gladly take the Hokies and the points.
NCAAB Pick: Virginia Tech +3½ (-105) at Heritage Sports
Houston Cougars vs. Texas Longhorns
Monday, January 29, 2024 – 09:00 PM ET at Moody Center
Things have gone a little sour for Texas lately with losses in three of the last five, but the Longhorns hope to turn that around beginning with an upset win Monday night when BetOnline has the visiting Houston Cougars favored by 5 in Austin.
UT 0-3 ATS in Big 12 Home Tilts
Houston treated its fans to a 74-52 whipping of Kansas State on Saturday, jumping out to an 11-0 lead and never looking back. The Cougars swelled their lead to 29 in the second half before Kelvin Sampson eased off the pedal, and the defense harassed the Wildcats into 18 turnovers.
Texas traveled to Provo on Saturday and did an excellent job defending the perimeter against BYU. The problem was the Longhorns sort of forgot about defense in the paint where the Cougars outscored Texas 40-26 in the 84-72 final. Brigham Young was favored by 7½.
First Meeting Since 2013
As far as rivalries go, you can’t find a more even series than this matchup with both sides owning 32 victories. It’s their first get-together since the good ol’ Southwest Conference days, and the first meeting period since Houston scored a 72-71 win in the opening round of the 2013 CBI.
Houston has the defense to shut anyone down, but tonight, the Moody Center rims will be friendly to both teams and give us an ‘over’ winner.
NCAAB Pick: Houston-Texas Over 129 (-110) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils vs. Southern University Jaguars
Monday, January 29, 2024 – 08:30 PM ET at F.G. Clark Activity Center
According to Kenpom, Mississippi Valley State is the worst college hoops team in the country, and it’s not even a close race. They’re so bad that even if the Delta Devils pick up their first win of the season Monday at Southern, they’ll still rank No. 362 on the list.
Jags Working on 4-0 SU & ATS Streak
This is the only matchup between the Jaguars and Delta Devils, the fourth consecutive year the SWAC rivals are only scheduled once. Southern holds a 53-35 lead in the series, and has been building on that margin by winning 15 of the last 16.
The Jaguars scored an 84-70 win road win and cover a year ago. Two years ago at home in Baton Rouge, Southern downed Mississippi Valley State 100-72 as 20½-point chalk.
The Pick
The Delta Devils struggle to score and struggle to keep the other team from scoring.
Any questions about which way we’re going with the college basketball pick?
NCAAB Pick: Southern -19½ (-110) at Heritage Sports
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
Calculators
