Clemson vs Virginia Odds, Picks and Predictions: Neither Offense Wastes Time to Get Going

It's a pivotal game for both teams when the Clemson Tigers travel to take on the Virginia Cavaliers.

For the moment, the Tigers are on the outside looking in at the NCAA Tournament. A loss against lowly Louisville a few weeks ago significantly damaged those hopes. With that said, they have begun to rebound recently with back-to-back wins — including an absolute destruction of NC State on the road over the weekend.

The Cavs' season has been strange. They'll likely be a Top 5 seed, and the public perception of them is genuinely positive. However, it's fair to wonder just how good the Hoos' are. They come into the day struggling with back-to-back losses against Boston College and North Carolina.

What's the best bet for this matchup? Find out in our college basketball picks and predictions for Clemson vs. Virginia. 

Clemson vs Virginia best odds

Clemson vs Virginia picks and predictions

I have a loose theory that Virginia would be better served to play faster. 

Some of its best performances (and wins) have come in games with more possessions, like 67 possessions in the win against Baylor, 68 in the win against Duke (overtime), and 68 against Illinois. Likewise, it had its lowest possession total of the season when it barely beat Louisville (58), and it had 60 in the loss to Boston College.

Beyond this theory, though, I'm expecting an immediate sense of urgency tonight out of the gate from the Hoos, and that's why I'm making the first half Over of 60.5 my best bet. Now that you know why I'm focusing on this first-half aspect, let's focus on why these offenses should have a decent amount of success tonight.

Let's look at UVA first. 

The main culprit in its past two losses has been poor 3-point shooting, and a product of that has been good defense. North Carolina — for all its faults — ranks third in spot-up defending. That's not a massive deal for the Cavs from a possession-to-possession standpoint, but timely break-backing threes are how it's gone on patented "Virginia runs" to close halves and games.

Tonight they'll have those open looks, and at some point, good shooters will make open shots. I'm banking on that being this evening. Clemson's spot-up defense is the fourth-worst in the ACC, allowing an eFG of nearly 50%. Virginia's complement of shooters, such as Armann Franklin, Ben Vander Plas, and Isacc McKneely, are well suited to expose this.  

On the other side of the ball, it's not always fun trying to back a team to score on UVA, but the Tigers have a path. One of the best ways to attack a pack-line defense is beyond the stripe or on decisive cutting actions.

I think Clemson can do enough to push this Over. The Tigers have the best 3-point percentage in the ACC at 37%, and they also have strong cutters in stars, PJ Hall and Hunter Tyson. You won't get the offensive output you got at NC State, but they should be able to do their part.

My best bet: First half Over 60.5 (-110 at bet365)

Clemson vs Virginia spread analysis

I'm finding this incredibly difficult to call, so I'm staying away. 

On one hand, you have to like the matchup for Clemson. Only a few teams are going to be able to have the tools to score regularly on Virginia in the halfcourt, but Clemson does. Add in the fact that the Hoos' defense has yet to go to the historical level of the past, and you feel even better about that.

However, Virginia has good shooters. The numbers don't lie, and it's struggled lately. Those struggles won't continue, and more often than not, when those struggles flip, they flip in a big way. Add in the fact the Tigers aren't the best spot-up shooting defense in the world, and you feel an increase in the "going nuclear" chances for UVA.

If the Hoos are knocking down open shots early, I'm inclined to jump in-game. But it's a highly dependent situation on the number and tempo of the game. 

Clemson vs Virginia Over/Under analysis

The total for this tilt opened at 129.5 and has stayed that way as of writing. However, the Over is juiced to -125 while you can get the Under at around -115.

Given that I'm taking the first half Over here, I generally feel good about the Over. I see more of the edge of the first-half side because of the situational aspects of this matchup. 

Both of these offenses have advantages, and as I've illustrated, it would benefit Virginia to play faster. However, looking at the trends suggests that the Over is the direction to go. Clemson's games have gone Over in six straight games. For the Cavs, a team that the public is generally conditioned to bet Under on, games have gone Over in five of the last six against a team with a .600 or better record. 

Clemson vs Virginia betting trend to know

The Over is 6-1 in Clemson's last seven road games. Find more college basketball betting trends for Clemson vs. Virginia.

Clemson vs Virginia game info

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