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The Virginia Cavaliers take on the Maryland Terrapins in College Park, MD. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET on Peacock/NBCSN.
Virginia is favored by -6.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -275. The total is set at 152.5 points.
Here’s my Virginia vs. Maryland prediction and college basketball picks for November 13, 2026.
Virginia vs Maryland Prediction
Pick: Virginia -6.5 (Play to -9)
My Virginia vs Maryland best bet is on the Cavaliers to cover the spread. Be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page and download the Action Network app for the latest picks and analysis.
Virginia vs Maryland Odds
| Virginia Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -105 | 152.5 -115o / -105u | -275 |
| Maryland Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -115 | 152.5 -115o / -105u | +220 |
- Virginia vs Maryland spread: Virginia -6.5 (-105), Maryland +6.5 (-115)
- Virginia vs Maryland over/under: 152.5 (-115o / -105u)
- Virginia vs Maryland moneyline: Virginia -275, Maryland +220
Virginia vs Maryland College Basketball Preview
Virginia Basketball
Virginia was one of the biggest stock risers from the first week of the college basketball season. The Cavaliers dismantled Arkansas on a neutral court and have picked up three other wins to make for a strong 4-0 start.
The Cavaliers returned four starters from a 30-win team, and they all got better. Big man Thijs De Ridder was named ACC Preseason Player of the Year, and he might have a chance to win the national award. He leads Virginia with 17.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.
The most improved, though, is 7-footer Johann Grunloh, who looks more confident on the offensive end than he was a season ago. He’s an elite defender and now a reliable 13-point-per-game scorer.
That’s the best frontcourt in the country.
Don’t sleep on the other three starters, either. Chance Mallory is a blur going down the court. He might be 5-foot-10, but he’s dynamic and lightning quick. Also, he also shoots 43% from 3.
Sam Lewis is one of the best shooters in the country, and 6-fot-7 wing Nolan Adekunle gives Virginia another sniper to round out the lineup.
As we’ve seen in the past two years, two of the most important ingredients to winning the national title are defending the rim and offensive rebounding. The Cavaliers boast a 43% offensive rebounding rate (15th) and should be able to improve on their 49% 2-point field goal defense.
Between the pure talent and underlying numbers, Ryan Odom’s team has what it takes to end up in Detroit come April.
Maryland Basketball
Oh, Buzz. Maryland is off to a painful start. The Terps are 1-1 with an ugly loss to Georgetown, which nearly lost to Delaware State in its next game.
I just think Maryland has a poorly put-together roster. If you have two non-shooting bigs like Maryland does — Pharrel Payne and Tomislav Buljan — the guards need to be good shooters.
That's not the case for Maryland. D.J. Wagner is the lead guard, and he's a mediocre shooter, while Andre Mills only shot 34% from deep last season. So, four of the five starters are shooting 34% or worse from deep, and Michael McNair Jr., a transfer from Boston University, needs to find his shooting touch again.
The big-man duo should win Maryland games, though. Payne is a monster, averaging 20 points and seven rebounds per game. Buljan checks in with seven points and 8.5 rebounds a night. He can be a better scorer and needs to shoot better than 40% from the field.
The Terps need to improve from their 80th-place ranking in KenPom's defensive efficiency. That's not a good number for how the roster is built. You'd expect them to be a top-40 — or better — defense.
Buzz Williams can live with some of the offensive hardships if their defense tightens up.
Virginia vs Maryland Pick, Betting Analysis
I'm laying the points here. I don't see how Maryland scores on this Virginia squad if the Terps can't shoot.
The strength of Maryland is the bigs and Virginia has even better bigs.
Can Mills and Wagner shoot? Maybe, but I'd rather take my chances with Adekunle, Lewis and Mallory as my marksmen.
This feels like a game Virginia could win by double digits.
Pick: Virginia -6.5 (Play to -9)
