On Thursday, the Furman Paladins will meet the Virginia Cavaliers in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. This game will feature an interesting contrast in styles, as the potent Furman offense tries to breach a stout Virginia defense. But only one team can win, as we give you our best bet for this Furman vs Virginia matchup from Orlando.
Furman vs Virginia Betting Pick
| ℹ️ The Pick: | Under 132.5 |
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This game will be played at Amway Center at 12:40 PM ET on Thursday, March 16, 2023.
Why Bet on the Under:
✅ This is the toughest defense that Furman has faced this season. The Paladins rank eighth in college basketball in scoring at 82.1 points per game, but they will be slowed down by the pack line defense of the Cavaliers.
✅ Virginia is unlikely to change their style of play offensively, which is great news for the under. Virginia ranks 360th of 363 Division I teams in adjusted tempo according to Kenpom, and we should see fewer possessions and points than usual for Furman as a result.
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Furman Paladins: Finally On the Big Stage
Last season, the Furman Paladins had a spot in the NCAA Tournament ripped away from them, as they lost on a buzzer beater to the Chattanooga Mocs in the Southern Conference final. This year, they got revenge on the Mocs, beating them in the SoCon title game to get to the NCAA Tournament. Now, the Paladins will aim to make the most of getting to the Big Dance for the first time since 1980.
For Furman, the question going into this game is whether their dynamic duo can make an impact against the defense of Virginia. Mike Bothwell and Jalen Slawson have been great against SoCon competition. But asking them to play just as well against one of the best defenses in college basketball may be too much to ask in their tournament debuts.
Virginia Cavaliers: Looking to Avoid Another First Round Upset
The Virginia Cavaliers made it to the ACC Tournament championship game this season, falling short against the Duke Blue Devils in the final. But the Cavaliers had won four in a row going into that loss to Duke, and the Cavaliers are looking good going into the NCAA Tournament.
Of course, Virginia will not be able to take the court as a favorite in the NCAA Tournament without memories of their loss to UMBC in 2018 popping up. But the Cavaliers have continued to rely on their philosophy of putting defense above everything else after that defeat, and they will look to use that defense to shut Furman down on Thursday.
Virginia will also look to lean on their tournament experience here, led by veteran guard Kihei Clark. Clark averages 10.9 points and 5.4 assists per game on the season. Look for him to be a steadying presence for the Cavaliers as they look to hold serve as a higher seed here, to set up a second round matchup with either San Diego State or Charleston.
