Against the Odds: Wake Forest is a solid favorite over Pitt

Sometimes when I see a line that doesn’t make sense, I just tell myself, “Vegas must know something.” Let’s hope not for tonight’s game between Wake Forest and Pitt. Vegas has installed Wake as a 6.5 point favorite this evening, despite the recent strong play of the Panthers. Both teams are in desperate need of a win to keep their very slim NCAA Tournament hopes alive. I can’t believe I just said that this late in the season about Pitt.

The game will tip off at 7 p.m. in Winston-Salem, NC. Danning Manning brings his Demon Deacons in with a 15-12 record and 6-9 in the conference. However Wake has dropped three of it’s last four, while the Panthers are reversed in that regard. Maybe it is that the game will take place on Wake’s campus at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum that has Vegas thinking this way.

Maybe Vegas sees a distinct advantage over Pitt in the paint with sophomore forward John Collins. Collins is averaging close to a double-double this season. The 6’10” big man is dropping 19.0 points per game and 9.6 rebounds per contest. Sheldon Jeter, Mike Young, and others will have their hands full and keeping him under control is priority number one for Kevin Stallings crew.

This is a big one for both teams in the terms of ACC seeding and, as mentioned, the Big Dance. Win and you keep your hopes alive. Lose and you keep putting yourself in a bad, bad spot in the eyes of the committee. Not sure many thought this would be a big game heading into the season. But it is and Pitt can put itself in good position with another upset tonight.

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