The fourth-seeded Virginia Cavaliers are hoping to make a deep 2023 NCAA Tournament run as they open play against the 13th-seeded Furman Paladins in a South Region game on Thursday in Orlando, Fla. The Cavaliers (25-7), who are the regular season co-champions of the ACC, are making their 25th NCAA Tournament appearance and ninth since 2012. The Paladins (27-7), who won both the Southern Conference regular season and tournament titles, are making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1980. This is the seventh time Furman has earned a berth in the tournament.
The game from Amway Center will tip off at 12:30 p.m. ET. Furman is averaging 82.1 points per game, while UVA averages 67.8. The Cavaliers are 5.5-point favorites in the latest Furman vs. Virginia odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is set at 131. Before making any Virginia vs. Furman picks, be sure to check out the college basketball predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. The model enters the 2023 NCAA Tournament 79-53 on all-top rated college basketball picks this season, returning nearly $1,300 for $100 players. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on UVA vs. Furman and revealed its coveted picks and predictions for the NCAA Tournament 2023. You can head to SportsLine to see the picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for Furman vs. UVA:
- Virginia vs. Furman spread: Virginia -5.5
- Virginia vs. Furman over/under: 131 points
- Virginia vs. Furman money line: Furman +195, Virginia -230
- FUR: The Paladins have 231 steals on the season, 6.8 per game
- UVA: The Cavaliers allowed the sixth-fewest points in the nation at 60.3 points per game
- Virginia vs. Furman picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Virginia can cover
Senior guard Kihei Clark is one of three Cavaliers averaging double-figure scoring. In 32 games, all starts, he is averaging 10.9 points, 5.4 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 33.1 minutes. He is connecting on 40.2% of his field goals, including 35.6% from 3-point range, and 77.2% from the free-throw line. He has scored 10 or more points in 15 games, and recorded one double-double. He scored 12 points and dished out 10 assists in a 67-62 win at Syracuse on Jan. 30.
Junior guard Reece Beekman is coming off a 12-point, four-assist and four-steal performance in a 59-49 loss to Duke in the ACC Tournament Championship Game on Saturday. He also had 15 points, five assists and three rebounds in a quarterfinal win over North Carolina. Beekman has one double-double on the year, a 10-point and 10-assist effort against Baylor on Nov. 18. For the season, he is averaging 9.4 points, 5.3 assists, three rebounds and 1.8 steals per game.
Why Furman can cover
The Paladins are led by senior guard Mike Bothwell. In 34 games, all starts, he is averaging 18 points, 3.5 rebounds and three assists. He is connecting on 51.9% of his field goals and 82.9% of his free throws. He is coming off a 16-point performance in an 88-79 win over Chattanooga in the Southern Conference Tournament Championship Game. He's had two 30-plus point games. He scored 36 points in a 72-70 win over Stephen F. Austin on Dec. 17, and scored 35 points in a 93-79 victory at Samford on Feb. 25.
Senior forward Jalen Slawson is coming off a dominant Southern Conference Tournament. In the championship game win over Chattanooga, he scored 20 points, grabbed five rebounds and dished out four assists. He had 15 points and nine rebounds in an 83-80 overtime win over Western Carolina in the semifinals. For the season, he is averaging 15.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.6 blocks.
How to make Furman vs. Virginia picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the point total, projecting the teams to combine for 144 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits 60% of the time. You can only see the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Virginia vs. Furman? And which side of the spread hits 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its college basketball picks, and find out.
