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Gardner-Webb vs Virginia March Madness Odds / Live Stream / TV Channel, Date / Time & Prediction

Gardner-Webb vs Virginia March Madness Odds / Live Stream / TV Channel, Date / Time & Prediction

Written by on March 19, 2019

March Madness Trends, Rumors & News, NCAA Basketball Betting News

No. 1 seeds are 135-1 all-time against No. 16 seeds in the NCAA Tournament since the field expanded to 64 in 1985. That one loss? By Virginia when it was the overall No. 1 seed last year. The Wahoos look to avoid another embarrassment on Friday when they open South Region play as huge March Madness betting favorites against No. 16 Gardner-Webb.

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Gardner-Webb vs Virginia 2019 March Madness Odds & Game Info

  • When: Friday, 3:10 PM ET
  • Where: Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, SC
  • TV: truTV
  • 2019 March Madness Lines: UVA -23.5 (total 130.5)

Why Bet on Gardner-Webb?

Gardner-Webb finished third in the Big South regular-season standings but beat Radford 76-65 to win the conference tournament title. DJ Laster scored a career-high 32 points and Gardner-Webb controlled the action from start to finish.

Laster finished the game a sizzling 14-of-17 from the floor, including a pair of three-pointers, six rebounds and just one turnover in 32 minutes. He fell just two points shy of the tournament record for points in the championship game – and was named MVP following the final horn. Gardner-Webb got 15 points – all in the second half – from David Efianayi, and 11 points and seven boards from Jose Perez.

The win punched an NCAA Tournament ticket for Gardner-Webb (23-11) for the first time since the program’s move to NCAA Division I in 2000. The Runnin’ Bulldogs enter the Big Dance on a five-game win streak and have won 11 of their last 13 games overall.  The Runnin’ Bulldogs have previously made national tournament appearances at the NJCAA, NAIA and NCAA Division II levels.

The Bulldogs have an efficient offense. Gardner-Webb shoots 39.3 percent from behind the arc and has players capable of succeeding off the dribble and inside the lane. Three different Dawgs compiled at least 90 assists this season, and the team is capable of taking care of the ball fairly well. Gardner-Webb also made 70.9 percent of its free throw attempts. It’s not a good rebounding team. In fact, Gardner-Webb takes a minus-0.8 margin into the tournament. No player averages even six a game, and rivals have had great success on the offensive boards.

Friday will mark the second all-time meeting between the Cavaliers and Gardner-Webb. Virginia captured a 72-65 win on December 20, 2002 in University Hall. Gardner-Webb posted a 2-1 record against ACC foes this season during the regular season, falling at nationally-ranked Virginia Tech in November before taking road wins at Georgia Tech and Wake Forest as part of an undefeated December.

Why Bet on Virginia?

Virginia was the regular-season co-champion in the ACC, losing only to Duke. However, the Wahoos were upset by Florida State in the ACC Tournament semifinals, 69-59. Three players scored in double figures for the Cavaliers, led by redshirt sophomore De’Andre Hunter with 13 points. Junior Kyle Guy had 11 points and junior Ty Jerome had 10. Virginia shot 41.5 percent for the game, while Florida State shot 56.5 percent. UVA finished with 19 turnovers.  FSU out-rebounded Virginia 35-20, largest margin against (15) for an opponent.

His biggest takeaway from the game, Jerome said, was that the Cavaliers are “susceptible to losing when we’re not the tougher team and we don’t do what we have to do, especially on the defensive side. Shots aren’t going to go in all the time. I know the way we defended, the way we got out-toughed, we got out-rebounded … was not acceptable.”

UVA will make its school-record sixth straight and 23rd overall NCAA Tournament appearance. The No. 1 seed marks the fourth in the past six seasons and seventh overall for the Cavaliers. This is Virginia’s seventh NCAA Tournament appearance under three-time National and four-time ACC Coach of the Year Tony Bennett. But despite all of the regular season success in the rough-and-tumble ACC, Bennett is just 7-6 in NCAA tourney games at Virginia. The Cavaliers have compiled an all-time record of 29-22 in 22 NCAA tournaments. UVA advanced to the NCAA Final Four in 1981 and 1984.

As a team, the Cavaliers shoot over 41 percent from deep, which is third in Division I. Hunter is a lottery pick who can guard anybody on the floor, and Guy and Jerome are fearless shooters. Virginia is still very stingy on the defensive end.  Hunter, the 2019 ACC Defensive Player of the Year, can defend anyone from point guards to power forwards. And Hunter won’t lack motivation after missing last March’s NCAA tourney flameout vs. UMBC with an injury.

The Cavaliers smother opponents with their pack-line defense. They allow foes to make just 19.7 field goals per game, and opponents shoot just 37.4 percent from the field and 27.3 percent from 3-point range.

Latest Gardner-Webb vs Virginia March Madness Betting Trends

  • Gardner-Webb is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
  • Runnin’ Bulldogs are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
  • Runnin’ Bulldogs are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. Atlantic Coast.
  • Virginia is 14-3 ATS in their last 17 games following a ATS loss.
  • Virginia is 20-8 ATS in their last 28 games following a straight up loss.
  • Cavaliers are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
  • Cavaliers are 20-8 ATS in their last 28 non-conference games.

Expert March Madness Betting Prediction

Virginia 81, Gardner-Webb 52

2019 March Madness Expert Betting News

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