The Miami basketball team will play its biggest game to this point of the season when they host number five Virginia on Tuesday night at the Watsco Center. Miami is ranked 22nd in both polls this week which is its highest ranking since the final regular season poll in 2018. The Hurricanes are 8-0 at home this season.
Virginia lost its first game of the 2022-23 season at home versus number three Houston on Saturday. Miami lost both games to Virginia last season. The Hurricanes enter the game on Tuesday night with a seven-game winning streak. Miami had a nine-game winning streak during the 2021-22 season.
Virginia is a better team offensively than they have been in recent seasons, but still prefers a slower pace of play. The Cavaliers are 359th nationally averaging 64.3 possessions per game. Miami is 192nd averaging 70.6 possession per game. Whichever team dictates tempo could decide the outcome.
Virginia is averaging 70.9 points per game this season and allowing 59.1. The Miami basketball team scores 79.0 PPG and allows 68.3 PPG. Virginia is led by guard Jayden Gardner who averages 11.8 PPG, 6.3 rebounds and shoots 52.7 percent from the floor. Isaiah Wong leads Miami with 16.7 PPG and 4.4 assists.
"GAME 13 | DEC. 20, 2022 • 8:30 P.M. ET • CORAL GABLES, FLA.#6 Virginia Cavaliers (8-1, 1-0 ACC)Head Coach: Tony Bennett (Green Bay, 1992)Record at VA: 324-118 (14th season), Career Record: 393-151 (17th season)#22 Miami Hurricanes (11-1, 2-0 ACC)Head Coach: Jim Larrañaga (Providence, 1971)Record at UM: 237-142 (12th season), Career Record: 707-476 (39th season)All-Time: 12-15 (10-15 since rebirth) | Home: 7-4 | Away: 4-9 | Neutral: 1-2 | Coach L: 3-12 (3-11 at UM) Streak: Lost 6 | Last Meeting: 74-71 home loss (Feb. 19, 2022) | First Meeting: 80-75 home win (Feb. 10, 1966)BROADCAST INFORMATIONACCN • Play-by-Play: Jay Alter • Color: Seth Greenberg | es.pn/3Pyb2eh| FuboTVFM 104.3 WSFS • Joe Zagacki • Danny Rabinowitz | audacy.com/stations/wqamam3 | Sirius XM 135 & 193| FM 90.5 WVUM • Alex Bitchatchi • Wyatt Kopelman | wvum.org"
Miami enters the game 1-1 against quad-one teams in the NCAA Net Ratings. A win over Virginia would greatly help Miami move from their number 60 ranking entering the game versus the Cavaliers. Virginia is 16th in the net ratings entering the game with Miami. The Hurricanes are getting doubted versus the Cavaliers.
"Spread: Virginia -2.5 (-105) Miami +2.5 (-115)Total: 133.5Moneyline: Virginia -135, Miami +114,Odds courtesy Fan DuelGame odds refresh periodically and are subject to change"
Miami is 6-6 versus the point spread this season. Virginia is 3-6 against the point spread this season. Miami enters the game on Tuesday night covering the spread in five of its last six games. Virginia has not covered in its last five games. The over has come in five teams in Miami and Virginia games this season.
The safe bet on Tuesday night is to take the over. Expect a close game that could go either way. Watch the point spread up until game time. Virginia initially opened as a 1.5-point favorite and that moved a whole point in the Cavaliers’ favor since then. Miami needs a win to prove the doubters wrong.