Virginia vs Miami Prediction, Odds & Best Bet for Dec. 20 (ACC Rivals Keep Things Close at Watsco Center)

Virginia vs Miami Game Info

2022-23 NCAA College Basketball Regular Season Game
No. 6 Virginia Cavaliers (8-1, 1-0 ACC) vs. No. 22 Miami Hurricanes (11-1, 2-0 ACC)
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Watsco Center — Coral Gables, FL
Coverage: ACC Network

The 2022-23 NCAA college basketball season continues on Tuesday, Dec. 20, including an ACC collision between the No. 6 Virginia Cavaliers and No. 22 Miami Hurricanes.

Virginia's perfect start to the campaign came to an end on Saturday in the form of a 69-61 loss to ranked Houston. Meanwhile, Miami scored a 91-76 victory over St. Francis that same time, winning its seventh consecutive game. Isaiah Wong was the star of the show, leading the Hurricanes in both points (22) and rebounds (10).

Can Virginia get back on the path to success with a road win? Or will Miami win the latest chapter of this ACC rivalry?

Virginia vs Miami Odds & Spread

All NCAA college basketball betting lines, odds and prop bets.
Moneyline: UVA: (-154) | MIA: (+128)
Spread: UVA: -3.5 (-105) | MIA: +3.5 (-115)
Total: 129.5 - Over: (-115) | Under: (-105)

Virginia enters this contest as the slight favorite on the moneyline and spread per FanDuel Sportsbook's odds. This 8:30 p.m. ET clash also features an over/under of 129.5 points, which is among the lowest of Tuesday's projected totals.

Virginia vs Miami Prediction & Pick

Although this rivalry has gone back and forth at times, it's been nothing but Virginia for the last handful of years. The Cavaliers swept last season's series, 2-0, and have won each of their last six games against the Hurricanes. If that wasn't impressive enough, Virginia has also won four of its last five trips to Watsco Center.

I like Virginia winning, yet again, due to its defense, which allows just 59.1 PPG this season (No. 14) and has held opponents to a 35.9% field-goal percentage over the last three games. Meanwhile, Miami's defense isn't nearly good (especially lately), allowing nearly 20 more points over the last three games (84.7 PPG) than it has this season (68.3 PPG).

With the Cavaliers also averaging fewer turnovers (9.7, No. 6) than the Hurricanes (11.5, T-No. 53), I'm even more confident that Virginia will get the job done.

Final Score Prediction: Virginia: 68 | Miami: 65

Virginia vs Miami Betting Trends

- Virginia is 0-5 against the spread (ATS) in its last five games.
- Miami is 8-0 straight up in its last eight home games.
- The total has hit the under in four of Virginia's last six games.
- The total has hit the under in 10 of Miami's last 14 games against Virginia.

Virginia vs Miami Best Bet

Even though I'm siding with Virginia, there's still a chance that Miami could keep things closer than expected. The Cavaliers have failed to cover the spread in each of their last five games and are 1-4 ATS when it comes to their last five ACC matchups.

On the other hand, the Hurricanes are 5-1 ATS in their last six bouts against the ACC and also boast a plus-13.4 scoring margin at home this season. Though Virginia is a plus-6.0 on the road, it's only a plus-0.8 in its last three games overall, further enforcing my belief that Miami can cover the spread and, potentially, even pull off an upset.

Bet: Miami +3.5 (-115)

Devon Platana is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Devon Platana also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username PepeSilvia0. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.