Monday night features a top 25 battle and the two of the top teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference when the #9 Virginia Cavaliers (15-3, 11-1 ACC) take on the #17 Florida State Seminoles (11-3, 7-2 ACC). The contest will be the only meeting between the two teams this season. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. EST inside the Donald L. Tucker Center in Tallahassee, FL. FSU is a narrow 1-point favorite over the Cavaliers, according to oddsmakers.
What to Know – Virginia Cavaliers
Virginia has won four in a row and is 10-1 in games played in 2021. The Cavaliers took down North Carolina, 60-48, on Saturday to extend their conference lead to 2.5 games. Virginia is 1-2 this season against ranked opponents.
In Saturday’s 12-point victory over North Carolina, the Cavaliers held NC to only 34.5% (20-of-58) shooting from the field, including just 12.5% (2-for-16) from beyond the arc. Senior forward Jay Huff led the Cavaliers in scoring with a game-high 18 points and chipped in 12 rebounds.
The Cavaliers average 69.9 points per game and are 9-1 in games when they score 70 points or more. UVA shoots 49.0% from the floor and is fourth in the country in 3-point field goal percentage (39.9%) and fifth in free throw percentage (80.0%).
Senior forward Sam Hauser paces Virginia averaging 15.1 points per game. Huff is second on the team scoring 13.4 ppg, while junior guard Trey Murphy III adds 11.5 ppg.
Virginia is 10-7-1 against the spread overall and 4-1-1 on the road. The Cavaliers are 4-1 ATS in their last five games against FSU, with a 7-4-1 mark in the conference games.
What to Know – Florida State Seminoles
After a pair of postponements, the Seminoles downed Wake Forest in overtime, 92-85, on Saturday afternoon. FSU has had four games conference games postponed and will now play six games over the next three weeks. The Seminoles sit 2.5 games behind Virginia in the conference standings.
On Saturday, the Seminoles built a 10-point first-half lead before the Demon Deacons stormed back to force overtime. Five FSU players scored in double figures, led by junior RaiQuan Gray with 24 points.
FSU scores 79.1 points per game, shooting 47.2% from the field. FSU’s scoring offense is the highest in the conference. The Seminoles hold opponents to 69.5 points per game with a 40.4% shooting average.
Leading the league’s top offense is senior guard MJ Walker, who averages 13.7 points per game. Gray is second on the roster scoring 11.1 ppg, and freshman guard Scottie Barnes supplies 10.5 ppg.
FSU sports an 8-6 record ATS with a 7-4 record on their home floor. The Seminoles 5-2 ATS over their last seven games and have a 6-3 record against conference foes.
The Pick is In
Florida State has had success against the Cavaliers at home, winning three of their last five in Tallahassee. These teams have had success in the new year, with just one loss apiece on their schedule in 2021. FSU has had some success against head coach Tony Bennett, including a 54-50 home victory last season.
The Pick: Florida State Seminoles -1
