Texas basketball vs. Virginia Tech: Last-minute odds before tip-off

Less than an hour ahead of tip-off between the six-seed Texas basketball and 11-seed Virginia Tech Hokies in this key Round of 64 meeting on the afternoon of March 18, first-year head coach Chris Beard is gearing up his team for a real battle. Texas will be looking to snap their three-game losing streak heading into the NCAA Tournament. This squad is also looking to snap their four-game losing streak in the NCAA Tournament dating back to 2014.

Beard and the Longhorns come into the Round of 64 sporting a record of 21-11 (10-8 Big 12) following their early exit in the Big 12 Tournament in a loss to the TCU Horned Frogs back on March 10. That loss to TCU last week extended Texas’ losing streak to three games, which is a streak that now dates back to Feb. 28.

Meanwhile, the defending ACC Tournament Champion Virginia Tech comes into this game with a record of 23-12 (11-9 ACC). Virginia Tech’s last game saw them upset the No. 7 Duke Blue Devils in the finals of the ACC Tournament. Head coach Mike Young and the Hokies are riding a four-game winning streak heading into this one.

Here’s a look at the last-minute betting odds ahead of tip-off between Texas and Virginia Tech in the Round of 64 at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, WI, with tip-off time set for 3:30 p.m. CT on March 18.

Texas basketball vs. Virginia Tech last-minute odds

According to WynnBet, Texas is a 1.5-point favorite over Virginia Tech in this game. That is 0.5 more points in Texas’ favor than the spread was at this time on March 17.

And the over/under for this game is now set at 125 points. The over/under was moved up by 1.5 more points than it was at this same time on March 17.

The ESPN matchup predictor now gives Texas a 50.2 percent chance to beat Virginia Tech. That is a slightly lower chance in the ESPN Basketball Power Index for Texas to beat Virginia Tech in the Round of 64.

Moreover, Beard and the Longhorns have a big opportunity now to make a run in the East Region of the NCAA Tournament. With the 15-seed Saint Peters downing the two-seed Kentucky in a massive upset on March 17, the door is open in this part of the East Region for both Texas and the three-seed Purdue Boilermakers to make a run to the Elite Eight.

A lot of the disappointment from how Beard and the Longhorns rounded out the regular season and their short run in the Big 12 Tournament could easily be put behind them by beating Virginia Tech in the Round of 64. Texas definitely has a lot on the line in this game.