Virginia Tech vs Miami Odds, Pick: Evenly Matched Affair

Both Virginia Tech and Miami currently sit on the wrong side of the NCAA tournament picture, and each desperately need this game.

This will be a rematch of a January 13 tilt in which the Hurricanes won 75-71 in Blacksburg.

The Hokies have won three of their last four and have been playing better basketball since that loss.

Meanwhile, Miami has dropped three of its last five since that game and continue to fall short of preseason expectations.

The Hokies continue to live the roller coaster ride that is the college basketball season.

There are moments where this looks like a surefire tournament team, including in a recent 91-67 thrashing of Georgia Tech, or back in November when Virginia Tech handled a really good Iowa State team from start to finish.

There have been plenty of setbacks, however. The Hokies couldn't get it done at home against Duke on Monday, and have also let games slip away against Florida State and Miami earlier in conference play.

All things considered this is a pretty balanced basketball team that just needs to find a little bit more consistency.

Whether it be Sean Pedulla, Hunter Cattoor or MJ Collins, Mike Young has plenty of capable shooters who can get it going from the outside.

Additionally, Lynn Kidd has taken a huge leap on the interior, both scoring the ball and protecting the rim.

The matchup between Kidd and Norchad Omier will go a long way in deciding this one.

Miami was viewed as one of the top favorites to win the ACC regular title back in the preseason.

Three full months into the season, and the Canes are currently one of the biggest disappointments in all of college basketball.

Sure, Isaiah Wong and Jordan Miller were big losses from last year's Final Four team, but Miami returned just about every other key contributor from that group.

There have been 22- and 27-point losses to Kentucky and Colorado, as well as home defeats to lowly Louisville and a mediocre Florida State team.

The biggest issue for the Hurricanes has been a defense that just can't get any critical stops.

The Canes rank outside the top 100 in KenPom's Adjusted Defensive Efficiency rankings, and are surrendering an average of 79.2 points per game in their five conference losses.

Virginia Tech possesses one of the most efficient offenses in the ACC, so Miami must be much more committed to the defensive end if it wants to complete the regular season sweep of the Hokies.

Nijel Pack and Wooga Poplar are both still dynamic scorers, but the two guards need to be more engaged on the other side of the floor.

Most of the games between these two programs in recent memory have come right down to the wire and ended in dramatic fashion.

I don't expect Saturday afternoon to be all that different, especially given how similar and evenly matched these teams are.

Given the likelihood of a tight game — as well as the revenge angle for the Hokies — I think the value is on Virginia Tech as a short underdog.

Cattoor wasn't at full strength when these groups met earlier in the month, and I think the veteran sharpshooter will make a play or two that could prove to be the difference in this one.

Give me the Hokies catching the points in what should be a fun one in south Florida.

Pick: Virginia Tech +2.5