Virginia vs. Furman Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – NCAA Tournament Round First Round

March 13, 2023, by Andy Molitor College Basketball Predictions

The No. 4 Virginia Cavaliers (25-7) and the No. 13 Furman Paladins (27-7) will meet on Thursday to compete for a spot in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Virginia is favored by 5.5 points in the opening round matchup, which begins at 12:40 PM on truTV. Here are the insights you need when filling out your bracket for this 4-13 matchup. The point total is set at 132 in the matchup.

Virginia vs. Furman Odds

Virginia odds to win: -246
Furman odds to win: +200
Spread: Virginia (-5.5)
Total: 132

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Game Time and Information

Date: Thursday, March 16, 2023
Time: 12:40 PM ET
TV: truTV
Where: Orlando, Florida
Venue: Amway Center

Who Will Win Virginia vs. Furman?

Virginia and Furman Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread

When it has played as at least 5.5-point favorites this season, Virginia is 7-12 against the spread.

Furman is winless against the spread (0-1) when playing as at least a 5.5-point underdog.

These two teams average 149.9 points per game combined, 17.9 more than the over/under of 132.

Opponents of these two teams have averaged a combined 131.5 points per game, 0.5 fewer than the point total for this matchup.

Virginia’s average point total in outings this year is 128.1, 3.9 points less than the over/under in this game.

Paladins games this season have averaged an over/under of 153.3 points, 21.3 more than the point total in this matchup.

So far this season, the Cavaliers have compiled a 13-18-1 record against the spread.

The Paladins are 18-13-0 ATS this season.

Virginia Stats & Insights

Virginia’s +242 scoring differential (outscoring opponents by 7.5 points per game) is a result of scoring 67.8 points per game (278th in college basketball) while giving up 60.3 per outing (sixth in college basketball).

The 29.5 rebounds per game Virginia averages rank 301st in the nation. Its opponents pull down 29.0 per outing.

The Cavaliers hit 6.8 three-pointers per game (239th in college basketball) at a 35.3% rate (114th in college basketball), compared to the 7.0 their opponents make while shooting 34.0% from deep.

Virginia averages 98.4 points per 100 possessions (60th in college basketball), while allowing 87.4 points per 100 possessions (71st in college basketball).

In home games, the Cavaliers are posting 2.9 more points per game (68.6) than they are in road games (65.7).

Furman Stats & Insights

Furman’s +370 scoring differential (outscoring opponents by 10.9 points per game) is a result of putting up 82.1 points per game (seventh in college basketball) while giving up 71.2 per contest (214th in college basketball).

Furman wins the rebound battle by 2.9 boards on average. It collects 33.0 rebounds per game, 98th in college basketball, while its opponents pull down 30.1.

Furman connects on 9.5 three-pointers per game (19th in college basketball), 2.6 more than its opponents.

Furman ranks third in college basketball averaging 105.5 points per 100 possessions on offense, and defensively is 175th, allowing 91.5 points per 100 possessions.

The Paladins score 86.5 points per game at home, and 77.5 away.

Virginia Key Players to Watch

The Cavaliers scoring leader is Armaan Franklin, who averages 12.5 per contest to go with 4.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists.

Virginia’s leading rebounder is Jayden Gardner averaging 5.8 boards per game and its best passer is Kihei Clark and his 5.4 assists per game.

Franklin makes more threes per game than any other member of the Cavaliers, knocking down shots from beyond the arc at a clip of 1.9 per contest.

Reece Beekman is Virginia’s leader in steals, averaging 1.8 steals per game, while Kadin Shedrick leads them in blocks with 1.3 per contest.

Furman Key Players to Watch

Mike Bothwell is the top scorer for the Paladins with 18.0 points per game. He also adds 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game to his stats.

Jalen Slawson puts up a stat line of 7.1 rebounds, 15.7 points and 3.2 assists per game for Furman to take the top rebound spot on the team. JP Pegues has the top spot for assists with 4.0 per game, adding 12.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per matchup.

Pegues is dependable from three-point range and leads the Paladins with 1.9 made threes per game.

Furman’s leader in steals and blocks is Slawson with 1.6 steals and 1.5 blocks per game.