NCAA Basketball Picks: Virginia Cavaliers at Minnesota Gophers

Virginia Cavaliers at Minnesota Gophers
Monday, 11/29/10, 7:00 PM EDT, TV: ESPN2
Opening Point Spread: Minnesota -15
Current Betting Line: Minnesota -15

The Minnesota Gophers are double-digit favorites in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge and hosting the Virginia Cavaliers

Virginia travels to Minnesota for the first game of the 2010 ACC/Big Ten Challenge and it will be the program’s second trip to Minneapolis in three years in the event. The Cavaliers lead the all-time series, 4-2, but the home team has won all three meetings in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The Cavaliers will need more than two points from their bench to remain competitive in this contest, as that was their contribution in a 70-58 loss to Wichita State in its final game in the Maui Invitational. “We’re not a real deep team, but we’ve got to keep looking to develop our rotation and getting a little more,” said head coach Tony Bennett. “I played our main five or six guys heavy minutes and they responded well, but we need to get a little more help off the bench.” The team is a double-digit underdog on the college basketball lines page.

The Cavaliers have a 5-5 all-time record in the challenge, including a 1-4 mark on the road. Minnesota is just the second ranked opponent Virginia has played in the challenge, dropping an 82-75 contest at Michigan State in 2002-03, also following a Virginia trip to Maui. This will be the program’s second game against a ranked opponent this season, suffering a 106-63 blowout loss to No. 13 Washington in the first round of the Maui Invitational. It’s important to note that the team is 14-1 when scoring at least 70 points under Bennett, while recording a 4-18 mark when scoring under that mark.

Minnesota will look to continue its great start to the 2010-11 season, while also trying to improve upon its 4-7 record in the challenge, losing to Miami, 63-58, last season in Coral Gables. The Gophers broke into the Top 25 last week after winning the Puerto Rico Tip-Off, beating North Carolina 72-67 along the way. “Coach has really emphasized six, seven passes and then a great shot,” said Blake Hoffarber. “I think in previous years, a couple times we didn’t pass it as much.” Head coach Tubby Smith is 1-1 all-time against the Cavaliers. Minnesota is 21-12 ATS at home the past three seasons.

The Gophers won the Puerto Rico Classic with a 3-0 record and now have a combined record of 73-40 in in-season tournaments. Minnesota is 9-3 under Smith in these types of tournaments, including a 3-0 record in the NABC Classic to start the 2008-09 season. The team has posted a combined record of 36-5 under Smith in regular season non-conference games, including a perfect 12-0 record to start the 2008-09 campaign. The Gophers went 8-0 last season at Williams Arena during the non-conference schedule.

Bettors will be interested in knowing that the Cavaliers are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 games overall, while the Gophers are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 versus the ACC.