SMU Mustangs vs Virginia Cavaliers NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/15/25
Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Mustangs and Cavaliers. The game is starting at 9:00 ET on ACCN, and it’s hosted by the Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, VA. Get ready to place your bets! In this Atlantic Coast matchup, SMU is favored bt -6.5 vs. Virginia. The over/under for the game is 133.5 points.
SMU MUSTANGS VS VIRGINIA CAVALIERS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Virginia Cavaliers +6.5
This game will be played at John Paul Jones Arena at 9:00 ET on Wednesday, January 15th.
WHY BET THE VIRGINIA CAVALIERS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-69 in favor of the Cavaliers.
- Not only will Virginia pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +6.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 133.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 145 points.
Will SMU Be The Talk of John Paul Jones Arena?
SMU Mustangs Recent Game/Games
SMU improved to 12-4 on the season with a 93-71 win over Georgia Tech on Saturday. Playing at home, the Mustangs entered as 11-point favorites and covered the spread. The game’s total points of 164 exceeded the over/under line of 153.5.
SMU dominated early, leading 50-19 at halftime, but allowed 52 points in the second half while scoring 43. Despite the defensive lapse, SMU’s strong first half ensured the win.
SMU’s offense was firing on all cylinders, putting up 93 points while shooting 50% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 60%, thanks in part to hitting 14 of 28 from beyond the arc, also at a 50% clip.
Chuck Harris and Javian McCollum led the way, each scoring over 20 points and shooting 63.6% from the floor. B.J. Edwards added 19 points, hitting 8 of 11 shots, including 2 of 2 from three-point range.
SMU’s defense struggled, giving up 71 points on 50% shooting from the field. The Mustangs allowed 35 made field goals on 70 attempts.
From beyond the arc, SMU’s defense allowed 14 threes on 28 attempts, a 50% shooting rate. They also sent the opposing team to the line 15 times, where they made 9 free throws.
Will Virginia Make it Happen at Home?
Virginia dropped to 8-8 on the season after an 88-65 loss to Stanford on Saturday, January 11th. The Cavaliers, who were +7.5 point underdogs, didn’t cover the spread in this one.
Virginia trailed 40-30 at halftime and allowed 48 points in the 2nd half while scoring 35. The game’s total points of 153 exceeded the O/U line of 125.5.
Virginia put up 65 points in their last game, shooting 46.7% from the field and hitting 47.6% from beyond the arc, connecting on 10 of 21 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 57.8%, and they were solid from the free-throw line, making 81.2% of their shots (13/16).
Maxime Raynaud led the way with 24 points and 10 rebounds, despite missing all 4 of his three-point attempts. Isaac McKneely added 22 points, hitting 5 of 11 from deep, while Oziyah Sellers contributed 15 points, shooting 50% from both the field and three-point range.
Virginia’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 88 points while allowing the opposing team to shoot 50% from the field. They had a tough time containing two-point shots, with the other team hitting 56% of their attempts inside the arc.
From beyond the three-point line, Virginia’s opponents shot 41%, making 10 threes. They also sent them to the free-throw line 17 times, where they converted 94% of their attempts. Virginia allowed 14 offensive rebounds as well.