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Minnesota at Virginia Tech (-12.5): O/U 127.0
Jamison Battle is back for Minnesota and that has made a significant difference over the last two games. The Gophers beat Cal Baptist by one point in OT and lost to UNLV by 11 points in a neutral-site tournament -- two of the three highest-rated teams Minnesota has faced so far.
Minnesota is one of the slowest paced teams in the nation (356th out of 362nd in adjusted tempo) and 31st in defensive effective field goal percentage (43.4%), so I like the chances the Gophers keep it close.
The Gophers are a much taller team and should win the rebounding battle versus the Hokies who rank 231st in defensive rebounding percentage and come in at 333rd in adjusted tempo.
Interestingly enough, while the Gophers are a bad free-throw shooting team, Virginia Tech has allowed 7.9% of its opponents points to come from the free-throw line, the lowest in the country.
Opponents hit 34.7% of threes through, which is 217th and Minnesota has attempted 49 three-pointers in the last two games with Battle back. If three-pointers start falling, Minnesota’s defense can keep them within striking distance.
Virginia Tech is also 0-5 ATS in the last five games and Minnesota last played on the 23rd, so they are rested.
Grab Minnesota 1H +7.5 (-114) and the full game at +11.5 (-110) on FanDuel.
Pick: Minnesota +12.5 (1u), Minnesota 1H +7.5 (1u)
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