Virginia Tech vs North Carolina Odds & Pick: Bet Hokies On the Road

It's time to take a look at the Virginia Tech vs. North Carolina odds and make a pick in our ACC college basketball betting preview for Saturday afternoon.

Virginia Tech takes on North Carolina in Chapel Hill in a game the Hokies desperately need to get back in the mix for an NCAA Tournament bid.

The Tar Heels were upset earlier in the week at Syracuse and will be looking to get back on track and remain atop the ACC standings as we inch closer toward conference tournament season.

This will be the first and only meeting of the season between the two.

So, where does the betting value lie? Let's dive in.

This marks the third straight season where Mike Young's team has struggled in ACC play after getting off to a solid start to the year in the nonconference.

Before Tuesday's win over Florida State, VT had lost three in a row, including a really bad loss at Notre Dame. At 6-7 in the conference, the Hokies must close really strong to have any chance of getting on the right side of the bubble.

Turnovers have plagued the Hokies all season. Other than Sean Pedulla, Virginia Tech doesn't have an elite ball handler. Fortunately for Tech on Saturday, Carolina doesn't play overly aggressive defense.

Containing RJ Davis will be critical on the other end, and that will take a committee effort from the entire group of guards.

Lynn Kidd and Mylyjael Poteat will also need to play big against Armando Bacot down low.

It's been quite the bounce-back season for North Carolina after shockingly missing the tournament a year ago. What has been the difference? Hubert Davis went back to the drawing board and got his team to commit to the defensive end.

The veteran group has responded, and as a result, the Tar Heels lead the ACC race as we enter mid-February.

Davis and Bacot have been as good as advertised, but to me, it's the role players who have made Carolina elite.

Harrison Ingram and Cormac Ryan have both been very good defensively and can make shots from outside, and Elliot Cadeau has made a ton of plays off the bounce.

Carolina should be able to generate a lot of quality looks when it has the ball in this one against a pedestrian VT defense.

On the other end, the Heels must make an effort to get out and contest shots from the perimeter, as Tech can make triples in bunches.

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Ultimately I just think this is too many points for Carolina to be laying against a Virginia Tech team that still has plenty of scorers.

Both offenses should have advantages in this matchup, and the Tar Heel defense is still due for some positive 3-point shooting regression.

Look for Hunter Cattoor, Pedulla and company to knock down their fair share of looks from deep, which will allow Tech to keep this game within single digits.

I actually give VT a slight chance to pull off a big upset in a bit of a last-stand spot against a Carolina team I still believe is a bit overvalued.

Take the Hokies and the points.

Pick: Virginia Tech +11