Virginia enters the Big Dance following a strong showing in the ACC, finishing second to Duke with a 15-3 record in conference play.
The Cavaliers are looking to end a seven-year drought as they haven’t won a NCAA Tournament game since their illustrious 2019 championship run.
Head coach Ryan Odom has guided them back to the mountain top, and in their way is No. 14 Wright State out of the Horizon League.
Tip-off for this first-round Midwest region contest is set for 1:50 p.m. ET on TBS.
Virginia is favored by 17.5 points, with oddsmakers setting an Over/Under of 145.5 points, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Wright State vs. Virginia prediction, best bet
Wright State has been on the negative end of tournament results, posting a 1-4 record in five March Madness games all-time.
Their adjusted offensive efficiency of 112.2 this season checks in at 111th per Torvik rankings, which is not great but serviceable.
The Raiders’ potential road to an upset will have to go through guards Michael Cooper and TJ Burch.
Beyond that is a pair of top-notch rim protectors in Johann Grunloh and Ugonna Onyenso.
With a combined average of 5.2 blocks per game, these twin towers are essential to the Cavaliers’ defense, which holds opponents to just 68.4 points per game.
Virginia is coming off a 74-70 loss to the overall top seed Duke in the ACC Tournament final.
The Cavaliers are also more effective in scoring the basketball than in previous years.
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This is largely due to Thijs De Ridder, who leads the team with 15.5 points per game. Additionally, Odom allows slashing guards Malik Thomas and Sam Lewis the freedom to attack the lane.
Wright State can hope to neutralize Virginia’s ability to make 3s, but its lack of size is troubling.
Combine the fact that Virginia boasts a top-30 offense and defense according to KenPom, and I’m backing a runaway win and the Under.
The plays: Same Game Parlay — Virginia to win by 11-plus points & Under 145.5 total points (+130, FanDuel Sportsbook)
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Mike Turay is a sports journalist and editor who closely follows the NBA, NFL, college sports and UFC. He has demonstrated expertise in both NBA and NFL player prop bets for nearly three years. Mike is also highly knowledgeable about the sportsbook offer landscape, frequently trying and reviewing the latest apps and sites.
