After being swept in the Bay Area to extend their losing streak to nine games, Miami returns home on Wednesday night to host Virginia in a game they are projected to win. The ESPN Basketball Power Index projects Miami with a 61.7 percent chance of defeating Virginia.
As with most teams who play Virginia, it is a contrast of styles. Miami is 158th nationally averaging 75.7 points per game and 348th allowing 80.6. Virginia is 361st averaging 61.9 PPG and 22nd allowing 64.5. The Cavaliers are not the efficient offensive team they were under Tony Bennett.
A potential matchup that could decide the game is Virginia's 3-point shooting. Miami is 364th allowing opponents to make 39.3 percent of their 3-point attempts. Virginia is 50th nationally connecting on 37 percent of their 3-point field goal attempts.
Miami needs Matthew Cleveland to continue being a scoring machine. Cleveland has scored at least 16 points in eight of his last nine games. In the loss to California on Saturday, Cleveland scored a career-high 31 points. Virginia only has two scorers averaging in double figures.
Virginia at Miami FanDuel odds
Miami is a 1.5-point favorite over Virginia per the FanDuel odds. Taking Virginia and the points is -120. Laying the points with Miami is -102. Virginia is -108 on the moneyline and Miami is -111. The over/under is 133.5. Taking the over is -115 and the under is -105.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change
MIami versus Virginia All-Time Series
Virginia leads the all-time series with Miami 16-13. Miami is 8-4 versus Virginia at home. Before a 66-64 Miami win in December 2022, Virginia won the previous six games with Miami overall and three games in Coral Gables. Virginia won last season 60-38 in Charlottesville.
Virginia at Miami Television
Virginia at Miami is on ESPNU at 7 PM Eastern time with Matthew Schumacker calling play-by-play and former ACC Tournament Most Valuable Randolph Childress for Wake Forest as the analyst. Virginia at Miami is also available streaming on FuboTV.
Virginia at Miami predictions
Virginia has lost six of its last seven games and is 2-6 on the road versus the spread. Miami is slightly worse with a 2-7 record versus the spread at home. Miami looked far better at California than the previous three games. If Miami is going to break their losing streak and give Bill Courtney his first win as interim head coach, Wednesday is the night. We're predicting them to do so.