Best UNC vs. Virginia Betting Picks for Feb. 24

No. 10 North Carolina is taking on one of the best defensive teams in the country in Virginia on Saturday as the Tar Heels try to build back momentum after going 3-3 in their last six games. With only five games left in the regular season, UNC needs to rediscover its form from earlier in the season to grab the ACC title and a good seed in the NCAA Tournament.

They are facing one of the toughest teams to beat on the road in the country. Virginia is 14-1 at home this season and has a top-10 defense per usual, according to KenPom ratings.

UNC vs. Virginia Odds, Spread and Total

UNC vs. Virginia Betting Pick and Prediction

As they have consistently done so over the last decade, Virginia under Tony Bennett plays a very slow, deliberate style of basketball. They rarely make any mistakes, don't turn the ball over, and wait for the ideal shot with every shot clock. This can make their games frustrating to watch at times, but the results are undeniable.

However, they are coming off of one of the worst losses in program history after they fell 75-41 to Virginia Tech on Monday. It was the second straight game where Virginia failed to reach 50 points.

North Carolina will surely be locked in defensively and we know how hard they can be to score on when they are at their best. Both teams will make sure to not dig themselves a hole early in the game because it's close to impossible to make a big comeback with the snail's pace Virginia likes to turn the games into.

This is the recipe for a tense, low-scoring affair. Virginia has the edge at home, with the extra motivation to bounce back. But taking the under is a safer bet in Virginia games.

My pick: Under 130

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Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.