15* UNC/VA Tech ESPN Thursday No-Brainer on OVER 143.5

North Carolina vs. Virginia Tech, 01/19/2012 21:00 EDT, Score: 82 - 68

Total: -110/+143½ Over

Sportsbook: DSI

Result: Win

The UNC Tar Heels and the Virginia Tech Hokies are each coming off poor offensive performances. I look for both to try and get out in transition a little more tonight to find easy baskets that just haven't been there in recent games. This one should have no problem sailing OVER the posted total by game's end.

North Carolina averages 85.2 points/game while giving up 67.2 points/game for an average combined score of 152.4 points/game. That's why it was so shocking to see them score just 57 points in a 57-90 blowout loss at Florida State last weekend. After such a poor offensive performance, you can bet head coach Roy Williams will have his team ready to go off on the scoreboard tonight.

Virginia Tech has been held to less than 60 points in each of their last three games during a 3-game losing streak. "We're not playing fast enough," coach Seth Greenberg said during the ACC's weekly teleconference. "We've got to get out in transition. Our wing guys aren't running hard enough." From those comments, it's easy to see that Greenberg will have his team looking to run a lot more tonight.

VA Tech is 9-1 to the OVER after 2 straight games where both teams score 65 points or less since 1997. The Hokies are 6-0 to the OVER in home games after a game with 9 or less assists over the last 2 seasons. These two trends make for a 15-1 (94%) system backing the OVER. Take the OVER in this game Thursday.