Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Maryland Terrapins Picks, Predictions, Odds

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

6 minute read

Dec. 1, 2021

Dan Dobish
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

The Virginia Tech Hokies (5-2) travel to meet the Maryland Terrapins (5-2) in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Wednesday at the XFINITY Center in College Park, Md. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on ESPN2.

Score Prediction

Maryland 65, Louisville 62

Best Bets

Maryland -130 ML

Maryland -1.5 (-110)

Under 132.5 (-110)

Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Maryland Terrapins Predictions

The Hokies opened the season with five wins in five games, but the competition wasn't exactly up to snuff. The Hokies hit the road for Barclays Center for a pair of neutral-site games, and they were dumped 69-61 by Memphis last Wednesday, while being edged by Xavier Friday by a 59-58 score. In that loss to the Musketeers, Va. Tech hit just 41% (22-of-54), while misfiring on four of his 10 free-throw attempts. The good news is that the Hokies committed just eight turnovers. Nahiem Alleyne managed 18 points with five boards and three assists, while Hunter Cattoor served as a tertiary scoring option with 13 points, helping out Alleyne and Keve Aluma.

Maryland was on the short end of a Big Ten/ACC Challenge tune-up against Louisville in The Bahamas, falling 63-55. They're now just 2-2 SU across the past four games, including a loss to George Mason on this same home floor on Nov. 17. Not much went right against the Cards, as the Terps shot just 38% (20-of-52) from the field, while hitting 29% (4-of-14) from behind the arc. They were also a dismal 65% (11-of-17) from the free-throw line. The Terrapins also committed 13 turnovers to just 10 assists.

The only difference here might be the location of the game. If this one were in Blacksburg, the lean would be to the Hokies.

Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Maryland Terrapins Betting Odds

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Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Maryland Terrapins Betting Resources

• Matchup: ACC vs. Big 10
• Date: Wednesday, December 1, 2021
• Venue: XFINITY Center
• Location: College Park, Maryland
• TV-Time: ESPN2 - 7:15 p.m. ET

• Injury Report
• Wooden Award Odds
• Conference Futures Market
• Power Rankings

Virginia Tech Hokies Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 5-2
• ATS: 5-2
• O/U: 1-5-1

We didn't see much from the Hokies in the first five games. I mean, we did, they were 5-0 SU/ATS, but they faced the likes of Maine, Navy, Radford, St. Francis (PA) and Merrimack, which isn't exactly a gauntlet. When they faced top-tier competition, the Hokies weren't awful, but they also were just one gear off. Memphis took care of them 69-61 in a non-cover and UNDER result, and the same applied in the 59-58 loss to Xavier.

The Hokies are 5-2 ATS in seven games overall, but this will be their first true road game. Virginia Tech is just 4-11 ATS in the past 15 games on the road, while going 1-10 ATS in the past 11 on the road against teams with a winning overall home mark. They're also 2-6 ATS in the past eight games against teams with a winning overall record. Virginia Tech hasn't handled the role of underdog very well lately, going 5-13 ATS in the past 18, while going 2-5 ATS in the past seven as a road underdog.

Virginia Tech has lost five straight meetings with Maryland, including the most recent meeting on March 4, 2014. It's obviously been a while, but Maryland is 4-0-1 ATS in the past five meetings, with the UNDER cashing in each of the past three meetings.

Maryland Terrapins Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 5-2
• ATS: 2-5
• O/U: 2-5

Maryland has had difficulty covering the spread so far, going 2-5 ATS in seven games overall, and they're just 1-4 ATS in five outings on their home floor, with the UNDER going 4-1 in those five games in College Park. Maryland hit an OVER in the opener against Quinnipiac on Nov. 9, and it has rattled off four straight UNDER results at home since.

The Terps also hit the UNDER last time out in its only battle against an ACC team so far against Louisville. I like the fact that Maryland has four players averaging 10 or more points per game, giving them a little depth. They need not just rely upon one or two scoring options, and they have five players snagging four or more rebounds, giving them plenty of options in that department, too.

In terms of totals, the UNDER is 5-1 in the past six games overall for Maryland, while the UNDER is 13-3 in the past 16 games following a non-cover, and 5-0 in the past five following a straight-up loss, too.

The UNDER is 5-0 in the past five games at home for the Maryland Terrapins. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Virginia Tech Hokies

• Record: 5-1
• VI Ranking: 40
• PS/G: 71.4 (201st)
• PA/G: 52.7 (2nd)
• ORtg: 108.9 (88th)
• DRtg: 80.4 (8th)

Inside the Stats - Maryland Terrapins

• Record: 5-2
• VI Ranking: 48
• PS/G: 71.1 (204th)
• PA/G: 67.3 (153rd)
• ORtg: 101 (207th)
• DRtg: 95.5 (163rd)

Key Players to Watch

• VT: Nahiem Alleyne - G (13.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 2.9 APG, 40.6 3P%)
• VT: Keve Aluma - F (12.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.1 APG, 1.0 BPG)
• MARY: Eric Ayala - G (15.1 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 2.6 APG)
• MARY: Fatts Russell - G (12.9 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 3.6 APG)

Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Maryland Terrapins Betting Conclusion

Neither of these teams have been very good against the number. Somebody is going to get a cover, and as mentioned above, venue makes a difference. You can toss out the fact Maryland is 5-0 SU/4-0-1 ATS in the past five meetings, because the last time they played was 2014. Ayala, the Maryland star, was 15 and in high school, the last time these teams squared off. So how meaningful are those trends?

However, I like the fact Maryland has a handful of scoring options, with four players averaging double-digits in points. The Hokies don't have as many possibilities when they need points. Maryland is a better rebounding team, too. This is going to be a close affair, with the Terps coming out on top in the end.

Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Maryland Terrapins Betting Trends

• Virginia Tech is 5-2 ATS in the past seven games overall.
• Virginia Tech is 4-11 ATS in the past 15 road games.
• Maryland is 2-6 ATS in the past eight games overall.
• Maryland is 1-5 ATS in the past six home games.
• The UNDER is 5-1-1 in the past seven games for Virginia Tech.
• The UNDER is 5-1 in the past six games for Maryland.
• The UNDER is 4-0 in the past four for Maryland as a favorite.

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