Virginia vs Boston College: High-Stakes ACC Matchup

Virginia and Boston College are both in desperate need of a win as they clash Tuesday night in Charlottesville, Va. Both teams are sitting at 1-6 in ACC play and are currently out of the top 15 spots needed to make the conference tournament in Charlotte, N.C., from March 11-15.

What’s Going On with Virginia?

Virginia (8-10, 1-6 ACC) has hit a rough patch, dropping five straight games. Four of those losses weren’t even close—we’re talking 14-point deficits or worse. Saturday’s game against Louisville was another tough one. Despite shooting a solid 65% in the second half, they couldn’t get out of their own way with 12 turnovers and some shaky free-throw shooting (7-of-13).

Interim coach Ron Sanchez is staying positive, though. “No one makes a mistake on purpose,” he said. “Everything they’re doing is to help the team win, and I’m here to keep encouraging them.”

Virginia’s top scorers, Elijah Saunders (12.1 PPG) and Isaac McKneely (11.8 PPG), will need to bring their A-game if they want to snap this losing streak—and being at home should help.

What About Boston College?

Boston College (9-9, 1-6 ACC) isn’t faring much better. They’re on a four-game skid and haven’t won a road game all season (0-3). That said, they did show some fight against No. 3 Duke on Saturday. The Eagles shot an impressive 58.3% in the first half—the best anyone’s done against Duke this season—but couldn’t keep it up. Duke came out strong in the second half, opening with a 9-2 run and cruising to an 88-63 win.

“We had to roll with four guards, which isn’t our usual setup,” said coach Earl Grant. “We had a solid game plan and got more confident, but we just couldn’t sustain it.”

Donald Hand Jr. (14.7 PPG) and Chad Venning (12.7 PPG) are the go-to guys for Boston College, and they’ll need to step up big time if the Eagles want to snag their first road win.

The Matchup and What’s at Stake

Virginia leads the all-time series 21-9 and has taken six of the last seven games. Their last meeting was a nail-biter in the ACC tournament last year, with Virginia pulling off a 66-60 overtime win. Playing at home gives the Cavaliers an edge, but both teams know how much is riding on this game.

Virginia’s focus will be on cutting down turnovers and capitalizing on their shooting potential, while Boston College needs to bring consistent energy and break through their road-game struggles.

Industry’s Best

Handicapping Membership

Get Free Trial

Final Thoughts

This one’s going to be a battle. Both teams are hungry for a win, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Virginia’s home-court advantage and history in this matchup might give them the upper hand, but if Boston College can put together a complete game, an upset isn’t out of the question. Either way, expect a close one