In a matchup of two teams with different approaches to the game, Pittsburgh (14-7) hosts Virginia (10-12) tonight at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN) at the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh.

Our Virginia vs. Pittsburgh predictions and odds suggest the Panthers offense will take the full load in the matchup as a 12.5-point favorite thanks to the play of Jalande Lowe.

Virginia vs Pittsburgh prediction for today
College basketball predictions based on odds from our top betting sites for March Madness.

Against the Spread: Pittsburgh -12.5 (-113 via BetRivers) vs. Virginia ⭐⭐⭐⭐
My top pick: Jaland Lowe Over 17.5 points (-105 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Prediction for the match Virginia - Pittsburgh with taking into account the handicap
Pittsburgh will play with a handicap: -12.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tony Bennett's abrupt resignation just before the start of the season has taken a huge toll on Virginia. The team has suffered its first losing season since 2009-10 and is 9-13 ATS. Even though Bennett's defense-first mentality has remained in place and Ron Sanchez has remained on the Cavaliers' bench, UVA still ranks 127th in defensive efficiency and 362nd in tempo, according to KenPom.

So even though this defense is only allowing 65.2 PPG, that has more to do with how slow its offense is than a really strong defensive game. That's part of the reason the Cavs' offense is virtually unwatchable: They rank 360th in PPG (63.3), 174th in adjusted efficiency, and second in O-Rate in the ACC, according to EvanMiya.

With an offense that's slower than Luka Doncic after a cheeseburger, Virginia won't be able to hold on for a win over Pitt, which ranks 18th in efficiency and is scoring 79.6 PPG. Lowe, Zach Austin and Ishmael Leggett - Jeff Capel has three players capable of pushing the tempo and getting to the line.

While the Panthers defense is far from dominant - 70.9 PPG - it simply has to be competent to stop such an abysmal Virginia offense. If the Panthers are able to bounce back, a $10 bet would yield a profit of $8.85.

Best odds: -113 via BetRivers | Estimated probability: 53.05%

Best predictions for the match Virginia - Pittsburgh
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Jaland Lowe Over 17.5 points ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Only two players in the ACC are averaging 17+ PPG, 4+ APG and 4+ RPG. One is Wooden Award odds leader Cooper Flagg and the other is Lowe, who is in the top 50 in the country in OBPR.

The sophomore has been a problem for defenses this season, and in ACC play, his game has taken a turn for the worse as he's averaging 17.4 PPG this year and 18.5 against conference opponents. Lowe is the catalyst for the offense, and Capel rarely puts him on the court. He leads the ACC in MPG (35.7), and that number has risen to 37.9 MPG in the conference.

Because of his volume, Lowe should be able to score points against Virginia's defense even at a reduced pace of play. If he scores more than 17.5 points for the 13th time this year, a $10 bet would yield a $9.52 profit.

Best odds: -105 on FanDuel | Estimated probability: 51.22%

Odds for the start of the match Virginia - Pittsburgh
Spread: Virginia +12.5 (-110) | Pittsburgh -12.5 (-110)
Over/Under: Over 133.5 (-110) | Under 133.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Virginia +525 | Pittsburgh -750

Information about the match Virginia - Pittsburgh
When: Monday, Feb. 3
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Petersen Events Center (Pittsburgh)
How to watch: ESPN
Favorite: Pittsburgh -12.5 (-113 via BetRivers)