Free Las Vegas Prediction: Virginia Cavaliers at NC State Wolfpack

Saturday, January 28, 2012

by Joe Rodriguez

Mike Scott - Free Las Vegas Prediction: Virginia Cavaliers at NC State Wolfpack

After alternating wins and losses since the start of conference play, No. 21 Virginia Cavaliers looks to build some ACC momentum with a visit to North Carolina State Wolfpack.

The Cavaliers are coming off a 17-point win over Boston College but have been unable to string together consecutive conference wins.

The Wolf Pack saw their three-game win streak snapped last time out, falling decisively on the road to No. 8 North Carolina.

- Virginia Cavaliers @ North Carolina State Wolfpack
When: 8:00 PM ET, Saturday, January 28, 2012
Where: RBC Center, Raleigh, North Carolina
TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN2, ESPN3.com
Check Live NCAA Basketball Odds on Justbet Sportsbook .

Justbet Sportsbook currently have the Wolfpack listed as 1½-point favorites versus the Cavaliers.

Virginia Cavaliers (16-3): The Cavaliers lead the ACC in scoring defense and are second in the nation, allowing 50.1 points per game. Virginia has limited its last three opponents to less than 50 points, marking the first time in the shot clock era (and second overall) that an ACC team has done that in three straight conference games. The Cavaliers are third in the conference and 20th in the NCAA in field goal percentage defense, holding opponents to 38.7 percent from the floor, and they don't allow many second chance points, leading the nation in defensive rebounding percentage (77.5). Virginia is led offensively by Mike Scott, who averages 16.6 points per game and leads the ACC in field goal percentage at 58.1 percent.

North Carolina State Wolfpack (15-6): The Wolf Pack are third in ACC scoring offense (75.9 points per game) and had managed 70 or more points in nine straight games before the loss at UNC. Scott Wood is N.C. State's leading scorer, averaging 13.2 points, and the conference's biggest threat from beyond the arc, connecting on 44.4 percent. The Wolf Pack has five players averaging double figures in scoring, including Lorenzo Brown, who also leads the ACC in steals with 2.0 per game and ranks eighth in the nation with 6.9 assists.

1. Virginia has won three straight over N.C. State but trails in the all-time series 80-57.

2. The Cavaliers are 13-0 when shooting better than 40 percent from the floor.

3. N.C. State ranks seventh in the ACC in field goal percentage defense at 42 percent.

BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Cavaliers 63, Wolfpack 60.

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lorenzo brown - mike scott - north carolina state wolfpack - rbc center - scott wood - virginia cavaliers

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