Virginia Tech Hokies at North Carolina Tarheels, Dean E. Smith Center, Chapel Hill, NC
Thursday, January 13, 2011, 9:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN
Opening Line: UNC -5 1/2
Current Line: UNC -5 1/2
Opening Total: 140
Current Total: 143 1/2
Money Line: UNC -250 / Virginia Tech +210
Virginia Tech is 10-4 on the season and 1-1 in ACC play. They have won 6 in a row after a 3 game losing streak. They have losses to Kansas St, UNLV, Purdue and Virginia on the season. Virginia Tech has wins over Oklahoma St, Penn St, Mississippi St, and Florida St on the year. They travel to Chapel Hill to take on the North Carolina Tarheels. Carolina is 11-4 overall and 1-0 in ACC play. They have losses to Minnesota, Vanderbilt, Illinois, and Texas on the season. The Tarheels have wins over Charleston, Kentucky, Rutgers and Virginia this season. North Carolina leads the overall series 60-13. The Tarheels have won 3 of the last 4 straight up but the Hokies are 3-1 ATS in those games. North Carolina is 12-24 ATS in all home games the last 3 seasons. They are 10-25 ATS versus conference foes in the same span. North Carolina is 4-15 ATS after a conference win the last 3 seasons.
Virginia Tech is dealing with a rash of injuries that are limiting their depth. Four players are out for the season with injuries and one has left the team due to personal reasons. Guard Dorenzo Hudson, forward Cadarian Raines, forward J.T. Thompson, and forward Allan Chaney are all injured. Guard Ben Boggs left the team. Hudson averages 10.4 points and 3.1 rebounds a game. None of the others played very much if at all. Senior guard Malcolm Delaney leads the team in scoring with 18.6 points, assists with 4 a game, and averages 1.6 steals a game. He also averages 4 rebounds a game and makes 42% of his three pointers. Forward Jeff Allen averages 13.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.2 steals and 1 block a game. Erick Green Leads the team in steals with 2 a game. Terrell Bell leads the team in blocks with 1.4 a game. The Hokies are outscoring opponents 71-60 on the season. They shoot 46.7% from the field and 31.5% from 3 point range. Hokie opponents are shooting 39.7% from the field. Virginia Tech makes 70.4% of their free throws. The Hokies average 34.6 rebounds a game and have a rebounding margin of +1.3. The Hokies average 13.5 assists and 13.6 turnovers a game. They force 16.5 turnovers a game on defense. The Hokies average 6.9 steals and 4.6 blocks a game.
The Tarheels are led by junior forward Tyler Zeller. Zeller averages 14.5 points to lead the team, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks a game. Forward Harrison Barnes averages 11.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists a game. John Henson leads the team in rebounds with 8.4 a game and blocks with 2.7 a game. He also averages 9.9 points a game. Dexter Strickland leads the team in steals with 1.5 a game. Kendall Marshall leads the team in assists with 4.1 a game. The Tarheels are outscoring opponents 79-67 on the season. UNC shoots 46.4% from the field and 35.5% from 3 point range. Tarheel opponents shoot 40% from the field. The Tarheels make 64.1% of their free throws. North Carolina averages 42.3 rebounds a game and has a rebounding margin of +6.3. They average 15.5 assists and 13.9 turnovers a game. UNC forces 15.5 turnovers a game on defense. They average 6.9 steals and 5.5 blocks a game.
This is a crucial game for both teams. Duke is clearly the class of the ACC despite losing last night to Florida St. North Carolina has a clear edge in rebounding over Virginia Tech. The Tarheels are always tough at home, nad thye should be able to win against a depleted Virginia Tech team.
our college basketball handicappers are red hot to start 2011. Don’t miss out on any more winners from now until the national championship game in April.
