by Chuck Sommers
Friday, Feb 17, 2023
Time: 5 p.m. ET
Venue: Cassell Coliseum, Blacksburg, VA
Where to watch: ACC Network
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Odds not yet released
FanDuel: Odds not yet released
BetMGM: Odds not yet released
Caesars: Odds not yet released
Season record
Pittsburgh: 19-7 (12-3 ACC)
Virginia Tech: 15-11 (5-10 ACC)
February is here and the college basketball season is taking full shape. Conference races still to be determined, the top 25 completely in shambles for what seems like every week, and there's bound to be an upset what seems like every single week. But as the season continues to progress with what seems like exciting action every week, you know our champion handicappers continue to put the work in each and every week to not only make money for them, but to ensure you get money in your pocket. All you need to do is look at the last 30 days. Scott Rickenbach has reeled in a net profit of $14,000 with a 24-9-0 run on the college hardwood. Team Del Genio has killed it with a 13-1-0 run at +$11,900. Will Rogers (28-15-0) and Matt Fargo (40-27-0) have also seen five figures over the last 30 days with college basketball. Surely, you want to get on this winning as well. All you need to do is go to bigal.com, check out our Best Bets page and make sure you are following along on the action. March will be here before you know it! Take advantage of our best plays and find out what our champion handicappers are doing at bigal.com!
Pittsburgh - Virginia Tech preview, prediction and analysis
Recent form
Pittsburgh: won 77-58 vs. Boston College
Virginia Tech: lost 77-70 at Georgia Tech
The Pittsburgh Panthers might be the best team to not be ranked. When you've won six in a row and have put yourself in a position to possibly steal the regular season conference title, you deserve to be up there. They will try to keep pace with the top of the conference on Saturday when they visit the Virginia Tech Hokies in Blacksburg.
The top of the ACC is having quite the run this season, and Pitt is no exception to that rule. The Panthers have won six straight games and are coming off a 77-58 win over Boston College last week in what has been an impressive string of wins for the Panthers.
Led by leading scorer Blake Hinson's 21 points on six made 3-pointers, the Panthers got another strong offensive performance against the lowly Eagles in rather dominant fashion. Not only did the Panthers clamp down defensively in the second half, but they put up nearly 40-point halves in back-to-back fashion.
They also kept Boston College to just 33.9 percent shooting and forced 14 turnovers. Not a bad day at the office for that group. Pittsburgh is in a three-way race with Virginia and Miami for the conference lead. Things are about to get exciting in that area.
Virginia Tech is trying to finish this regular season strong but has a tough slate down the stretch that includes Pittsburgh and Miami in the few days following. Virginia Tech is coming off a 77-70 loss at Georgia Tech on Wednesday. A valiant effort by Grant Basile with a team-high 21 points, coming off back-to-back 33-point efforts against Boston College and Notre Dame. But it just wasn't enough in what's been tough sledding for Virginia Tech since they started the season 11-1. Conference play has not been a fun time for anyone.
The Hokies are 4-3 outright since that seven-game losing streak before the calendar year turned to 2023. One of those wins includes a home victory over 74-68 Virginia a few games ago. Trying to get back to that side of good things is going to take a little bit.
Prediction
I don't doubt that Virginia Tech will play hard at home, but Pittsburgh has been overtly talented all year long. They need this game more than the Hokies do. Pittsburgh 76, Virginia Tech 71
The Pittsburgh Panthers might be the best team to not be ranked. When you've won six in a row and have put yourself in a position to possibly steal the regular season conference title, you deserve to be up there. They will try to keep pace with the top of the conference on Saturday when they visit the Virginia Tech Hokies in Blacksburg.
The top of the ACC is having quite the run this season, and Pitt is no exception to that rule. The Panthers have won six straight games and are coming off a 77-58 win over Boston College last week in what has been an impressive string of wins for the Panthers.
Led by leading scorer Blake Hinson's 21 points on six made 3-pointers, the Panthers got another strong offensive performance against the lowly Eagles in rather dominant fashion. Not only did the Panthers clamp down defensively in the second half, but they put up nearly 40-point halves in back-to-back fashion.
They also kept Boston College to just 33.9 percent shooting and forced 14 turnovers. Not a bad day at the office for that group. Pittsburgh is in a three-way race with Virginia and Miami for the conference lead. Things are about to get exciting in that area.
Virginia Tech is trying to finish this regular season strong but has a tough slate down the stretch that includes Pittsburgh and Miami in the few days following. Virginia Tech is coming off a 77-70 loss at Georgia Tech on Wednesday. A valiant effort by Grant Basile with a team-high 21 points, coming off back-to-back 33-point efforts against Boston College and Notre Dame. But it just wasn't enough in what's been tough sledding for Virginia Tech since they started the season 11-1. Conference play has not been a fun time for anyone.
The Hokies are 4-3 outright since that seven-game losing streak before the calendar year turned to 2023. One of those wins includes a home victory over 74-68 Virginia a few games ago. Trying to get back to that side of good things is going to take a little bit.
Prediction
I don't doubt that Virginia Tech will play hard at home, but Pittsburgh has been overtly talented all year long. They need this game more than the Hokies do. Pittsburgh 76, Virginia Tech 71
Betting trends
Pittsburgh is 45-32 ATS in all games the last 3 seasons.
Pittsburgh is 15-4 ATS after winning 5 or 6 of their last 7 games the last 3 seasons.
Pittsburgh is 26-13 ATS off a win the last 3 seasons.
Virginia Tech is 1-12 ATS after 3 straight games as a favorite this season.
Virginia Tech is 1-6 ATS after playing a road game this season.
Projected starting lineup
Pittsburgh:
PG: Nelly Cummings
SG: Greg Elliott
SF: Jamarius Burton
PF: Blake Hinson
C: Federiko Federiko
Virginia Tech:
PG: Sean Pedulla
SG: Hunter Cattoor
SF: M.J. Collins
PF: Justyn Mutts
C: Grant Basile
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
