Maryland Terrapins at #17 Virginia Cavaliers
John Paul Jones Arena – Charlottesville, Virginia
Monday, February 10, 2014, 9:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPNU
Opening Line: Virginia -11
Current Line: Virginia -11
Opening Total: 129
Current Total: 127 1/2
Opening Money Line: Virginia -700 / Maryland +510
Current Money Line: Virginia -700 / Maryland +510
The 19-5 Virginia Cavaliers are 10-1 in the ACC, in second a half game behind 10-0 Syracuse in the conference standings. The Cavaliers look to extend a 7 game winning streak as they host the rival 14-10 Maryland Terrapins Monday night, The Terrapins are 6-5 in conference and alone in seventh place.
Maryland leads the series 106-73 against Virginia, but the Cavaliers are 45-41 in Charlottesville against the Terrapins. Virginia has won straight games in the series including both meetings last year. Sadly, this rivalry could come to an end next season as Maryland moves to the Big Ten next season. The two schools will close out the regular season against each other in College Park March 9.
Maryland is coached by Mark Turgeon. The Terrapins have losses to Connecticut in Brooklyn, Oregon State, at Ohio State, George Washington in DC, Boston University, Pittsburgh twice, at Florida State, at NC State, and at North Carolina. Maryland has key wins over Marist, Northern Iowa, and Providence in a tournament in the Virgin Islands, at Boston College, Florida Atlantic, Tulsa, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, Miami, at Virginia Tech, and Saturday against Florida State 83-71. The Terps have won 3 of their last 4 games. Maryland is 10-10 ATS and the total is 11-8-1 this season.
Maryland is outscoring teams 73-69 this season. The Terrapins are shooting 44.1% from the field and 35.7% from 3 point range. Maryland makes 66.4% of their free throws. Terrapin opponents are shooting 42.4% from the field and 36.8% from 3 point range. Maryland averages 37.9 rebounds per game and opponents average 29.8 per game. The Terps average 12.2 assists, 13 turnovers, 6.3 assists, and 4.4 blocks per game. Opponents average 11.7 assists, 13 turnovers, 6.5 steals and 3.6 blocks per game.
Guard/forward Dez Wells averages 15.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1 steal per game. Guard Seth Allen averages 12.3 points, 1.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. Guard/forward Jake Layman averages 12.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block per game. Forward Evan Smotrycz averages 11.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Guard Nick Faust averages 9.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Forward Charles Mitchell averages 6.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Roddy Peters, Shaquille Cleare, and Jonathan Graham will also get significant minutes in the rotation.
Virginia is coached by Tony Bennett. The Cavaliers have losses to VCU, Wisconsin, at Green Bay, at Tennessee and at Duke. Virginia has key wins over James Madison, Davidson in Charlotte, SMU & Missouri State in a tournament in Corpus Christi, TX, Northern Iowa, Florida State twice, Wake Forest, at NC State, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, at Notre Dame, at Pittsburgh, Boston College and Saturday at Georgia Tech 64-45. Virginia is 13-7 ATS and the total is 9-9 this season.
Virginia is outscoring teams 67-56 this season. The Cavaliers are #2 in points allowed nationally and #291 out of 351 teams in scoring. Virginia is shooting 44.6% from the field and 36.9% from 3 point range. The Cavs are #298 in free throw shooting making just 65.8% from the line. Opponents are shooting 38.2% from the field and 32.9% from 3 point range. The Cavaliers are #10 nationally in field goal defense. Virginia averages 13.1 assists, 11 turnovers, 6.3 steals and 4 blocks per game. Opponents average 9.9 assists, 12.5 turnovers, 5.5 steals and 3.6 blocks per game.
Guard Malcolm Brogdon averages 12.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Guard Joe Harris averages 11.3 points, 3 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1 steal per game. Guard Justin Anderson averages 9.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. Forward Anthony Gill averages 7.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. Forward/center Mike Tobey averages 7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. Forward Akil Mitchell averages 6.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1 steal per game. Guard London Perrantes averages 4.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Forward Darion Atkins averages 3.5 points and 2.7 rebounds per game.
Maryland is 5-2 ATS in Wednesday games, 2-5 after a straight up win, 1-4 against teams with winning records, and in road games, 0-6 against teams with winning records, and 0-4 after a cover. The road team is 5-2 ATS in this series recently. The underdog has covered in four of the last five games in the series.
Virginia is 9-0 ATS against teams with winning records, 10-1 overall and against ACC teams, 8-1 after a straight up win, 6-1-1 in Monday games, 5-1 at home, 4-1 against teams with losing road records, and 34-16-1 after a cover. The under is 4-1 in the last 5 games in Charlottsville between Maryland and Virginia.
Virginia plays suffocating defense and the Cavaliers are one of the hottest teams in the country. I think Virginia wins but 11 seems like a lot in a rivalry game. Take Maryland to keep it close.
