Virginia-Gardner-Webb Betting Odds: Opening Spread, Analysis for 2019 NCAA Tournament

#1 Virginia vs. #16 Gardner-Webb NCAA Tournament Betting Odds

• Spread: Virginia -24
• Over/Under: 131.5
• Date: Friday, March 22
• Time: 3:10 p.m. ET
• Location: Columbia, S.C.
• TV: truTV

Virginia's Statistical Profile

After becoming the first 1-seed to lose in the NCAA Tournament Round of 64 last year, Virginia rebounded with a 28-2 season (16-2 in conference) and ranks as KenPom’s top college basketball team.

Not only do the Cavaliers play excruciatingly slow (ranking 353 in the country in tempo), but they’re extremely efficient on both sides of the ball, ranking in the top three in both offensive and defensive efficiency.

Virginia may not be the most exciting team to watch, but it is an interesting pick to consider when filling out your bracket pools. After busting so many brackets last year, there’s a good chance many will avoid the Cavaliers now, especially after UVA fell to Syracuse by double-digits in the seminfinals of the ACC Tournament, providing contrarian value to those playing in larger pools. — PJ Walsh

• Record: 29-3
• Adj. Efficiency Rank: 1
• Adj. Offensive Efficiency Rank: 2
• Adj. Defensive Efficiency Rank: 2
• Tempo Rank: 353

All advanced metrics via KenPom as of Friday, March 15

Gardner-Webb's Statistical Profile

Gardner-Webb is going dancing for the first time. With a 76-67 road win over the Radford Highlanders in the Big South Conference tournament championship game the fourth-seeded Runnin’ Bulldogs earned its first-ever bid to the NCAA tournament.

Gardner-Webb is one of the least talented teams to earn an automatic bid in this year’s bracket. According to KenPom, the Bulldogs rank 169th in in adjusted efficiency and are an awful 253rd in adjusted defensive efficiency – the team allows 73.4 points per game (216th).

Since 2005, the Big South is 3-14 in the NCAA tournament and 8-8-1 against the spread. No current member of the conference has reached the Sweet 16. — John Ewing

• Record: 23-11
• Adj. Efficiency Rank: 169
• Adj. Offensive Efficiency Rank: 111
• Adj. Defensive Efficiency Rank: 252
• Tempo Rank: 195

All advanced metrics via KenPom as of Friday, March 15

Virginia-Gardner-Webb Instant Bracket, Betting Picks

Early ATS lean: Virginia
Early bracket pick: Virginia — Stuckey

Sean Koerner's Virginia-Gardner-Webb Projections

Sean Koerner's proprietary projections also power our Bracket Simulator, which helps you find the most optimal bracket for your pool size.

• Spread: Virginia -26.5
• Over/Under: 132.5
• Score: Virginia 79.5 | Gardner-Webb 53
• Win Probability: Virginia 99.3% | Gardner-Webb 0.7%