Virginia Tech vs Clemson Odds, Picks: Why to Back Tigers

Virginia Tech vs Clemson Odds

Saturday, Jan. 21

6 p.m. ET

ESPNU

Virginia Tech Odds
Spread	Total	Moneyline
+1.5 -110	140.5 -110o / -110u	+104

Clemson Odds
Spread	Total	Moneyline
-1.5 -110	140.5 -110o / -110u	-125

Odds via FanDuel. Get up-to-the-minute college basketball odds here.

Saturday's matchup between the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Clemson Tigers is an odd one to say the least. Two teams that appear to be on completely opposite trajectories will meet for the second time this season under very different circumstances.

Clemson is 15-4 and coming off of its first conference loss, which also ended the Tigers' eight-game winning streak.

Virginia Tech meanwhile is at the other end of the ACC standings. The Hokies are 11-7 on the season and 1-7 in conference. The Hokies head to Clemson not only hoping to end a six-game losing streak, but they're also still in search of their first road win of the season.

The team leading the conference is hosting a team with only one conference win on the season. And the spread is only two points? Seems like a no brainer, right? Let's take a look at the odds and decipher why that might not be the case.

Virginia Tech Hokies

Last time out, the Hokies welcomed back Hunter Cattoor, who had missed the previous four games — one being a three-point loss to Clemson — with an injury. Cattoor was the ACC Tournament MVP a season ago and is averaging 9.7 points, 4.2 rebonds and 1.8 assists per game through 14 contests this season.

In his first game back,  Cattoor notched 11 points, six rebounds and five assists. Moving forward, nothing is more important for the Hokies than Cattoor's health. Without Cattoor, the offense looked lost in multiple games. His presence on the floor is crucial for this offense to flow.

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Clemson Tigers

While Virginia Tech is getting its star player back from injury, Clemson is likely to be without two of its best players. Alex Hemenway hasn't taken the floor since December 17th and although the Tigers have operated efficiently without him, they haven't been a threat from the perimeter in his absence.

Hemenway was the team's best 3-point shooter prior to his injury, having hit 27 of 54 (50%) attempts from deep. In non-conference play, with Hemenway in the lineup, the Tigers shot 40.2% from the perimeter. Since conference play began — a stretch in which the Tigers have had Hemenway for just one game — Clemson has made just 33.3% of its 3-point attempts.

In Clemson's loss to Wake Forest earlier this week, the Tigers were also without Chase Hunter, the team's second-leading scorer. Without Hunter, who is also second in usage, the Tigers have to find a new way to create offense.

Virginia Tech vs Clemson Betting Pick

This is a tough spot for Clemson. The Tigers will be without two of their best players, while Virginia Tech returns an offensive leader it has been desperately missing. Cattoor tremendously improves the flow of Virginia Tech's offense, but it's important to note he only missed four games and the Hokies offense has been bad all season.

The Hokies benefited incredibly from playing just one true road game in their 11-1 start to the season.  Even with Cattoor on the court this team can't score inside. Virginia Tech is far too dependent on the 3-pointer to only be hitting 31.8% in conference play.

As far as Clemson goes, Hunter and Hunter Tyson, their two leading scorers, had awful games against Duke as they combined for just three points in the first half and finished with 12 combined points.

The Clemson defense remains intact even without Hunter and the Tigers have been elite when it comes to defending the perimeter — holding opponents to just 30.8% from 3-point range in conference play.

Individual players do not win games, teams do. Back Clemson to get it done at home.

Pick: Clemson Moneyline

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