The Cavaliers will look to rebound in their first road game since a disappointing road loss to George Washington. Virginia’s won four straight games overall since while the Buckeyes enter in a slump.
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HOW THE VIRGINA CAVALIERS CAN COVER THE SPREAD
Ranked as one of the better teams in the very deep ACC heading into the season, the Cavaliers fell to George Washington in an upset on the road, but have otherwise captured five wins, including four in a row.
Despite that, they’re just 2-2 ATS in games with a published spread this season.
Outside of the outlier loss to George Washington, Virginia has scored at least 80-point in the rest of their games this year. The Cavs are averaging 51.7 percent shooting from the floor, ranking No. 14 in the nation.
To go along with the strong offense, Virginia is always known for its defense and should be able to slow down a Buckeyes’ team that’s missing their one-year wonder in D’Angelo Russell.
Malcolm Brogdon is a truly elite talent and the team’s top scorer, averaging 16.7 PPG. The team, however, sometimes lacks a true secondary threat behind him. That was the problem against the Colonials. Brogdon scored 28 and the next three highest scores combined scored less than he did.
In their latest game, however, Brogdon scored 23, but three others eclipsed double-digits.
HOW THE OHIO STATE BUCKEYES CAN COVER THE SPREAD
Ohio State isn’t the team it was last year, but there’s talent on the squad. Freshmen Jaquan Lyle is a huge get for the program and veterans Jea’Sean Tate and Marc Loving make a solid core.
Still, the Buckeyes enter play on Tuesday with three straight losses on their record, falling to Memphis 81-76 in overtime on Saturday. Despite the loss, the dynamic freshman, Lyle, led the team with 18 points and eight assists. Loving was just behind in scoring with 17 points.
On the year, Lyle is third on the team in scoring with 11.4 PPG, he’s also averaging an impressive 6.2 APG. His performance against the Tigers on Friday, however, shows he’s capable of even more as the season goes on. If Lyle can continue to develop and build off Friday’s performance, the Buckeyes could surprise on Tuesday.
Outside of Lyle, Loving along with Tate and Keita Bates-Diop are each also averaging at least 10 PPG. Lyle gives them team some scoring threat in the backcourt while the front court trio are all capable of putting points on the board, and are also each averaging at least 6.2 RPG in their small sample size this year.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Brogdon should be able to lead to Cavaliers to a strong offensive performance against Ohio State.
The question for the Cavs is who’ll be the No. 2 scoring threat. The team needs more from Marial Shayok than the 7.3 PPG he’s provided thus far if they’re going to hang with North Carolina and Duke atop the ACC, but for their Tuesday matchup with Ohio State, Anthony Gill and London Perrantes offer enough protection for Brogdon.
Ohio State has the pieces to be a tough opponent for nearly anyone, but has lacked consistency throughout the whole game, particularly throughout the current three game losing streak. Not only have they lost each game SU, but have also fallen in even more commanding fashion ATS.
There is some concern about Virginia’s performance on the road—given their loss to George Washington was their only true road game of the year—but they’ve fared better SU and ATS on a neutral court, showing they can win away from home.
Virginia 79, Ohio State 64
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