Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs Virginia Cavaliers Picks and Predictions March 12th 2025

A Fresh Start in the ACC Tournament

Georgia Tech and Virginia both enter the ACC Tournament looking to shake off recent struggles and piece together a deep postseason run. Their second-round showdown on Wednesday in Charlotte will determine which team advances to face No. 1 seed Duke in the quarterfinals.

The Yellow Jackets (16-15) and Cavaliers (15-16) each received first-round byes, but neither team enters this matchup with significant momentum. Ninth-seeded Virginia has dropped four of its past six games, while eighth-seeded Georgia Tech saw its three-game winning streak snapped in a lopsided 69-43 loss at Wake Forest on Saturday.

“If we’re going to make a run, it has to start on Wednesday,” Georgia Tech coach Damon Stoudamire said.

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Georgia Tech Seeks Consistency

Georgia Tech has shown flashes of strong play, but sustaining success has been a challenge. The Yellow Jackets’ three-game win streak leading into the Wake Forest loss gave them hope, but their lowest scoring output of the season against the Demon Deacons raised concerns.

“Last month we played really well except for a couple of games,” Stoudamire said. “We’re in a good space. You’ve got to run off some games.”

Baye Ndongo will be a key factor for Georgia Tech. The All-ACC Third Team selection has been a force in the paint, averaging 13.6 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, ranking fourth in the ACC in rebounding.

Virginia Needs a Reset

The Cavaliers are coming off an 84-70 loss at Syracuse, a performance interim coach Ron Sanchez called “unacceptable.”

“We are better than that,” Sanchez said. “Now it’s time for postseason play, so there’s got to be a level of excitement from all of us.”

Virginia will need freshman forward Jacob Cofie to step up. Cofie had a team-high 13 points against Syracuse but has struggled with consistency, going scoreless in three of his past six games.

“I think he’s really important for us making a run,” Sanchez said.

Cofie played well in Virginia’s 75-61 win over Georgia Tech on Feb. 8, scoring nine points and grabbing six rebounds. Isaac McKneely led the Cavaliers with 20 points in that contest, and Virginia will need another strong showing from him if they hope to advance.

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What’s at Stake?

A win in this matchup not only extends the season but sets up a quarterfinal clash with top-seeded Duke. Georgia Tech and Virginia both have the talent to make things difficult for the Blue Devils, but first, they must survive each other in this high-stakes second-round showdown.

With both teams desperate to gain momentum, expect an intense battle as they fight to keep their tournament hopes alive.