There’s not a ton to be confident about with the home team heading into the January 24th Virginia Tech at North Carolina betting matchup. The Tar Heels have dropped an 85-57 loss to Miami and fell 96-78 to Wake over their last two games. Both on the road, but losing by a combined 50 points isn’t ideal.
The thing about Monday night’s meeting is that Virginia Tech isn’t exactly burning up the charts either. The Hokies have lost four of their last six and will be playing their third straight road game in the visit to Chapel Hill. This is the Hokies’ first visit to the Dean Dome since 2019, a 103-82 UNC win. VT is just 2-5 in ACC play so they’re essentially out of the hunt, but 4-3 North Carolina needs this one to stay within 6-2 Miami.
Hokies Offense Misfiring
The betting total in the January 4th Virginia Tech at North Carolina betting contest is 141.5, a number that seems on the high side with the way that the Hokies offense is playing. Virginia Tech has been held 65 points or less in five of the last six and it’s no surprise they’ve lost four of those games.
It’s no surprise that Virginia Tech’s offense is struggling considering they are 12th in the ACC putting up just 69.1 ppg. North Carolina’s offense has much more potency scoring 77.9 ppg which is 3rd highest in the conference. The Tar Heels’ leading scorer Armando Bacot (16.9 ppg) is listed as questionable with a tailbone injury, but he played through the ailment on Saturday against Wake Forest scoring 12 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in 25 minutes.
It’s hard to know who VT will turn to keep up the scoring if Monday night’s game does turn into a shootout. Keve Aluma (15.7 ppg) needs to carry a big load and he’s gone for 17+ in five of the last six. Nahiem Alleyne and Justyn Mutts combined for combined for 46 points in a 79-73 win over Notre Dame on January 15th but that is hardly normal production.
Tar Heels Need a Cleanser
North Carolina is 9-0 at home this season but it’s still hard to trust this team as -4.5 favorites after 28 and 22 point losses the last two games. Maybe playing at the Dean Dome is the ultimate elixir for the Tar Heels though as they’ve got pretty big wins over Virginia (74-58) and Georgia Tech (88-65) in their last two games in Chapel Hill. UNC has covered the number in four straight home games and five of the last seven.
Having a healthy Armando Bacot is important for Monday’s matchup is huge as he’s posted nine straight double-doubles. Bacot had 17 points and 13 rebounds to knock Virginia Tech out in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament last year in Greensboro, the teams’ only matchup of the season. The Hokies were ranked #22 in the country at the time.
Free January 24th Virginia Tech at North Carolina Betting Pick
North Carolina is hard to trust after two huge blowout losses. Is playing on the road the sole reason that UNC has shot 34% and 33% from the floor at Miami and at Wake the last two games? VT has a way to slow things down and as a result their defense allowing just 59.8 ppg is 16th in the country even though opponents shoot 41.6% from the floor against the Hokies.
58% of the public is on North Carolina driving the spread up a point from the -3.5 open. We still have to fade the ‘Heels until they show losing by 50 points the last two games was a fluke.
Virginia Tech 70 – North Carolina 67
Free Pick: Virginia Tech +4.5
Free Pick: Under 141.5
