Virginia Tech vs Grambling State 12/17/22 College Basketball Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Grambling State Tigers and the Virginia Tech Hokies meet in college basketball action from the Cassell Coliseum on Saturday afternoon.

The Grambling State Tigers will look to build on their current three-game win streak after a 64-62 win over Vanderbilt last time out. Carte’Are Gordon leads the Tigers in scoring and rebounding with 13.8 PPG and 8 RPG while Cameron Christon has 11.7 PPG with 4.8 RPG and Shawndarius Cowart has 10.7 PPG with 3.7 RPG and a team-high 3.3 APG to lead the Tigers in assists and to round out the trio of double-digit scorers for Grambling State up to this point in the season. As a team, Grambling State is averaging 67.4 PPG on 42.7% shooting from the field, 34.1% from three and 63.3% from the foul line this season.

The Virginia Tech Hokies will look to add to their current five-game win streak after a 70-65 win over Oklahoma State last time out. Sean Pedulla leads the Hokies in scoring and assists with 16.9 PPG and 3.8 APG along with 3.4 RPG while Grant Basile has 14.6 PPG with 5.6 RPG and Justyn Mutts has 13 PPG with 3.6 APG of his own and a team-high 8.4 RPG to lead the Hokies in rebounding and to cap off the trio of double-digit scorers for Virginia Tech up to this point in the season. Hunter Cattoor also has 9.7 PPG and 4 RPG and Darius Maddox has 9.5 PPG as well this season. As a team, Virginia Tech is averaging 76.5 PPG on 48.6% shooting from the field, 35.3% from three and 75.7% from the foul line this season.

Grambling State is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall and 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games against a team with a winning record while the under is 7-0 in their last 7 games overall. Virginia Tech is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following an ATS win and 2-5 ATs in their last 7 games against a team with a winning percentage above .600 while the under is 5-2 in their last 7 games overall.

I get the case to be made for either side here, but I’m leaning towards Virginia Tech here. The Hokies haven’t been great in this heavy favorite role lately, but they have been playing really well and have a ton of momentum after wins over Oklahoma State, Dayton and North Carolina. Grambling does have wins over Colorado and Vanderbilt, but I think this Hokies team just ends up being too much. I’ll back the Hokies by 20+.