Virginia Tech has beaten Miami five of six meetings and dominated them against the spread for nearly two decades. But the oddsmakers have set the point spread at 1.5 points in favor of the Hokies as they visit the Hurricanes Thursday.
Virginia Tech vs. Miami 2012: Betting odds, preview, pick
The Hokies have dominated the Canes against the spread and only lay 1.5 points at Miami Thursday night. Can they extend their 13-4 ATS run in 17 games vs. Miami?
Geoff Burke
”The sportsbooks seem to be forgetting that the Hokies are 13-4 ATS in the past 17 meetings with the Canes,” said Jeff Grant of SportsbookReview.com.
Neither the Miami Hurricanes or Virginia Tech Hokies have been all that impressive this season, but they're both still in the running in the ACC's Coastal Division as they ready to hook up for a Thursday nighter at Sun Life Stadium (7:30 pm ET, ESPN).
Virginia Tech, despite some expected shortcomings on offense, was picked by many to win the Coastal Division this season. But with four games to go the Hokies have some work to do to pull that off. VT owns wins over Georgia Tech and Duke, but has lost each of its four road games, at Pitt, Cincinnati, North Carolina and Clemson.
Last week in Death Valley the Hokies outgained and outrushed the Tigers, but turned the ball over four times in losing 38-17, according to the matchup report.
On the other side of this matchup, Miami was not expected to contend in the Coastal this season, but won its first three conference games, beating Boston College, Georgia Tech and North Carolina State. But the ‘Canes have lost their last two ACC games, both at home, to North Carolina and Florida State.
Miami only trailed 16-13 in the fourth quarter vs. the Seminoles, but allowed FSU to score 17 straight points to pull away. The U also has been beaten this season by Kansas State, 52-13, and by Notre Dame at Soldier Field in Chicago, 41-3. So Miami, at 3-2 in ACC play, is tied for first in the Coastal Division with Duke and North Carolina, while the Hokies are 2-2 and a half-game back.
Playing against the weekly expectations on the betting boards, Miami is 5-3 ATS while Virginia Tech is 2-6 vs. the numbers.
Statistically speaking, in playing Sagarin’s 57th-toughest schedule the Hokies have outgained opponents this season by a 399-376 YPG margin, but been outrushed 167-157. Meanwhile Miami, in playing Sagarin’s 16th-toughest slate, has been outgained 499-415 and outrushed 249-127.
Virginia Tech has beaten Miami three straight seasons. Last year the Hokies got outgained and outrushed but scored with less than a minute to go to win 38-35 in Blacksburg.
Free Pick: We’re not too high on either of these teams, but we see the Hokies as the better team. So we give the short points and take VT. (courtesy of PickShark.com)
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