The Virginia Cavaliers are 4-1 against the spread over their last five games, but have lost two of their last three games outright. To avoid a third loss in the team's last four games, Virginia will have to pass a tough test this Saturday hosting the North Carolina Tar Heels.
North Carolina vs. Virginia 2016 odds: Cavaliers favored at home over Tar Heels
The slumping Virginia Cavaliers look to get on track at home against the North Carolina Tar Heels as Saturday betting favorites.
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Virginia is a 3.5-point home favorite on Saturday according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. The Cavaliers opened as a 4.5-point favorite, but steady action on the Tar Heels has brought the line down a full point to -3.5.
With only three players averaging over seven points a game in Malcolm Brogdon (18.2 points per game), Anthony Gill (13.6) and London Perrantes (11.2), the Virginia Cavaliers sit outside of the Top 200 in offense with only 70.7 points per game.
The team lives and dies by its defense, which is one of the absolute best in the country ranking third in the nation with 59.7 points allowed. That defense will have its hands full this Saturday with a Top 10 scoring offense coming to town.
Virginia has won three of its last five games against the Tar Heels straight up. North Carolina holds an 11-4 SU edge over the last 15 games in this head-to-head series, but Virginia is 10-5 ATS over that stretch per the OddsShark College Basketball Database.
North Carolina doesn’t have any signature wins on the road yet this season, but it will get two opportunities at one down the stretch at Virginia this Saturday and at Duke the following Saturday. The Tar Heels have had a solid season overall at 23-5 SU and 11-15-2 ATS, but are just 3-6 ATS on the road including a 1-2 SU and 0-3 ATS record on their last road trip.
North Carolina dialed up the offense in a 96-71 home win over the Miami Hurricanes last Saturday, and will try to put together another strong performance against Virginia’s stingy defense this week.
Saturday’s total is set at 137.5 points. The total has gone under in each of Virginia’s last seven games
With only three games remaining in the regular season for both of these teams, this game could serve as a big momentum booster for the winner heading into the ACC Tournament next month.
