855 VIRGINIA TECH +8
write up coming, get the 8
A couple of reasons I like the dog here before I even get into the injury of Sene. Tech is a a little young, but they are long and talented. The guard play of Brown and Finney-Smith is gettting better and I expect a much better game from Finney-Smith here after getting into foul trouble last couple of games. Tech already had the height advantage even before the seven footer was out with an injury. Virginia has shown at times to be offensively challenged; I know this team is not going to overwhelm anyone with points anyway, but if you take out the G. Tech game their margin of victory over the last 3 is about 4 points with one of those games being a 7 point win at home against Towson. For those of you unfamiliar with the powerhouse Towson Tigers, they are probably the worst or at best second to worst team this year out of 345 D-1 Teams. I understand it is dangerous to cap games in this matter, but for me any team ranked as high as Virginia has been ranked this year should not struggle at home against Towson. Virginia SOS rating is in the high 60s to low 70s and before they got into their ACC play most notably a game against Duke they were much lower. In my opinion a team ranked 17 in the AP with a SOS that low could have some glaring holes that have yet to show themselves. Also you have Virginia's last 2 games really fresh in everybody's mind. A demolishing 70-38 win at G.Tech and a close game at Duke; which will probably add to the public support for Virginia and in my opinion put the value on the dog. G.Tech is very young and does not have the same talent as V.Tech and G. Tech will have problems this year finding wins in the ACC and Duke may not be as complete a team as initially thought. We also have a V.Tech team still searching for their first conference win getting a chance to play their hated rivals on ESPNU, these players will be looking to make a statement and not get embarrassed I would think. How quickly everyone forgets that before losing 4 straight conference games Tech was 11-3 having lost to Syracuse, @ Minn, and K State and played very tough in each of those games. Before losing to UNC last game they were in close games with their other ACC opponents and could easily be 3-1 instead of 0-4 in the ACC. Lastly we have the 7 foot center now hurt for Virginia and playing the first full game without him. I am always concerned to back a team playing the first full game without a starter or key minute player and in this case he is also a 7 foot center. This is very much a player that provided much more than can be seen on stat sheets; he was the anchor in the middle that allowed the Virginia defense to extend and pressure. I am not sure he is easily replaced here as Virginia might find they miss him when playing athletes on the perimeter. I think this game will be close, as most Virginia games are and Tech will be fighting hard for the win.
