Virginia Cavaliers vs. Boston College Golden Eagles (-4.5)
The Cavaliers are in a late-season tailspin. Virginia is just 10-14 ATS this season, but its recent run of play has been abysmal.
The squad, under first year coach Tony Bennett, has lost nine straight, its longest losing streak since the 1961-62 season. During that span, Virginia is 1-8 ATS, including failing to cover in its past seven.
Here’s another reason to fade the Cavaliers: they haven’t won an ACC Tournament game in their past four tries. They’ll also be without Sylven Landesberg (17.3 ppg), who is suspended for academic reasons.
Boston College is just 3-2 SU in its past five, but a strong 4-1 ATS over that period, including a 13-point win over Virginia. In the team’s only meeting this season in Chestnut Hill, Boston College posted a 68-55 home win.
Prediction: Boston College 62, Virginia 53
Miami Hurricanes vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (-3.5)
Both these programs entered the season with big holes to fill in their lineups from departed stars. But the Demon Deacons have surged ahead, finishing fifth in the competitive league at 9-7 and all but locking up an at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament.
Wake Forest was in the midst of a late-season swoon, but claimed a 70-65 victory against Clemson on the last day of the regular season, making the Deacons 5-4 SU in their past nine but a sensational 7-2 ATS over that span.
Miami, meanwhile, struggled to a 4-12, last-place finish in the league. The squad was a solid 12-10 ATS this season, but a horrendous 2-8 SU on the road.
The teams split their regular-season meetings, with Wake claiming a 62-53 win in their own gym, avenging a 67-66 loss at Coral Gables earlier this year. Food for thought, though – Miami is 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS on neutral floors this year.
Prediction: Wake Forest 66, Miami 60
North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (-3.5)
So just how bad has North Carolina been this season? How about a wretched 10-19 ATS record? Ouch.
The Tar Heels have been beaten in just about every way imaginable this season, including suffering a few damaging injuries, like one to the wrist of Ed Davis that will keep the forward out until later this month.
North Carolina also is 3-7 SU and ATS over its past 10 games. The Heels just can’t score, posting a horrid 2-8 O/U record during that 10-game span.
Georgia Tech entered the year with huge talent and huge expectations, but finished a lackluster regular season with a 7-9 conference record. That inconsistent play was especially clear at the end of the season. The Rambling Wreck finished an awful 2-7 ATS over their final nine.
The Yellow Jackets, however, are 14-10 ATS this season, and covered the number both times in a pair of wins over the Tar Heels this season: a 73-71 victory in Chapel Hill, and a 68-51 win in Atlanta.
Prediction: Georgia Tech 68, North Carolina 59
North Carolina State Wolfpack vs. Clemson Tigers (-7.5)
Best stat of the first round of ACC Tournament games: Clemson is 0-8 ATS in its past eight games on neutral floors. That makes the team’s 5-6 road mark this year almost look respectable.
The Tigers are 6-4 SU in their past 10 but just 5-5 ATS, including a five-point loss to Wake Forest to end the year.
However, there is no other team that the Tigers would rather face than North Carolina State. Clemson has won the past five meetings against the Wolfpack, including a 73-70 win in Raleigh and a 63-51 beatdown at Littlejohn Colliseum.
North Carolina State has covered in three of its past four games, but is a mediocre 4-6 SU in its past 10. Clemson owns this team and should take care of business a sixth straight time.
Prediction: Clemson 74, North Carolina State 58