NCAAB ACC Tournament Championship Game Preview (2022)

Mar 12, 2022 - 2:35 PM

Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Duke Blue Devils Game Info

Virginia Tech Hokies (22-12, 11-9 ACC) vs. Duke Blue Devils (28-5, 16-4 ACC)

• Date: Saturday, Mar. 12, 2022
• Start Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Barclays Center — Brooklyn, NY
• Coverage: ESPN
• Last Meeting: December 22, 2021 — Duke defeated Virginia Tech 76-65 in Blacksburg.

Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Duke Blue Devils Betting Odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM

• Moneyline: VT: (+220) | DUKE: (-275)
• Point Spread: VT: +5.5 (+100) | DUKE: -5.5 (-120)
• Total: 136.5 — Over 136.5: (-110) | Under 136.5: (-110)

Betting Trends

• Virginia Tech 2021-22 Betting Trends: 18-16 ATS; 15-19 to the Over
• Duke 2021-22 Betting Trends: 17-14-2 ATS; 18-14-1 to the Over
• Virginia Tech is 6-2-1 ATS in its last nine games following a straight up win
• Virginia Tech is 5-2-1 ATS in its last eight games against teams with a winning record
• Duke is 9-4-1 ATS in its last 14 games following an ATS loss
• Duke is 0-5 ATS in its last five games against teams with a winning percentage above .600
• The under is 8-3 in Virginia Tech’s last 11 games
• The over is 10-4-1 in Virginia Tech’s last 15 neutral site games
• The over is 5-0 in Duke’s last five games
• The over is 5-2 in Duke’s last seven neutral site games as favorites

Overview

The Virginia Tech Hokies spoiled what would have been a ratings bonanza if the ACC Tournament Championship was the third meeting between Duke and North Carolina. However, while we do not get that blockbuster matchup in Brooklyn, this conference championship matchup still has plenty of intrigue and interesting storylines.

Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski makes one last attempt in his final season to hang a 16th ACC Tournament Championship banner at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Coach K breaks a tie with Dean Smith with his record 22nd championship game appearance and looks to add to his record by securing a 70th ACC Tournament win.

Meanwhile, Virginia Tech may have played its way into the NCAA Tournament field with its impressive three-day run thus far. However, if the Hokies want to leave no doubt and take the decision out of the selection committee’s hands, they will finish the job and earn an automatic berth with a win tonight. This is Virginia Tech’s first-ever ACC Championship game appearance, as the furthest they had ever been before was the semifinals, losing in 207, 2008, and 2011.

Virginia Tech Hokies Betting Preview

Virginia Tech has played its best basketball of the season for the last month and a half. After starting 10-10 and 2-7 in conference play, the Hokies have won 12 of 14, with a six-game winning streak mixed in. Thus, it took some time for the Hokies to start playing like the team that was projected to finish in the top five in the conference and one that received five first-place votes in the preseason media poll.

The Hokies have been dominant in their recent stretch, as their latest 12 wins have come by an average of 11.6 ppg. They have beaten three of the top four teams in the ACC in that span and look to add a victory over the regular-season champion Blue Devils tonight.

Duke Blue Devils Betting Preview

Duke has won nine of ten games entering tonight, with their only loss in that span coming by 13 points in the regular-season finale. Before that game, Duke’s other four losses were by a combined nine points. The Blue Devils have been head-and-shoulders above the rest of the ACC all season long, as they rank first in the league in adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency, per KenPom. In Duke’s 11-point road victory against Virginia Tech earlier this season, they covered as -9 point favorites, and the game went over the projected total of 138.5 points.

Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Duke Blue Devils Betting Pick and Prediction

The Virginia Tech team that Duke faced in late December is nothing like the Hokies team they will meet tonight. The Hokies’ offense was completely out of sorts during their 10-10 start, as they averaged just 62.3 ppg in those ten losses. However, Virginia Tech is now rolling offensively, running Mike Young’s complex sets to perfection. As a result, the Hokies have averaged 72 ppg over the last 14 games and an even more eye-popping 78.3 points in their three-game ACC Tournament run to this point. The latter statistic is even more impressive, considering they started grinding the clock early in the second half when they built a 20-point lead against North Carolina.

While Duke has been the best team in the league for the entire season, they are not without their flaws. The Blue Devils have allowed an average of 83 points in their last three games, which raises the question of if they are good enough defensively to win a national championship. In addition, Virginia Tech is a deadly offense when their rhythm is not disrupted, and they can run their sets. In Duke’s four ACC losses, their opponents committed just five turnovers in each game. The Blue Devils rank 300th among all Division I teams, forcing turnovers on 16.2% of opponents’ possessions. Thus, look for the Hokies to be comfortable on the offensive end tonight, leading to a cover as underdogs. 

Pick: Virginia Tech +5.5 (+100 at BetMGM)

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