O'Sullivan's Monday ACC picks: Iowa at Virginia, Notre Dame at Illinois in the Big Ten ACC Challenge
Thanks a lot, Yale. I’d create a daily scathing political cartoon strip that satirized your stuffy elitist hypocrisy, but it’s already been done…and I can’t draw.
Seattle O’Sullivan 2021-2022 ACC season so far: 4-10, -$137.70
Seattle O’Sullivan 2021-2022 Ivy League season so far: 6-12, -$58.95
(Standing Caveat: The universe is chaotic. Life is unpredictable. Things happen. Like injuries. In following Seattle O’Sullivan’s betting advice, be advised that you should always monitor your bets during the day to make certain unforeseen things have not occurred which might change your wagering opinion. Thank you.)
Iowa Hawkeyes at Virginia Cavaliers, 7 pm Eastern
The Pick: Iowa +2 (-110), bet $11 to win $10; over 130.5 points (-104), bet $5.20 to win $5
Since the Ivy League has been hurting my feelings, we’ll work with the ACC today. The power conference begins its annual “Big Ten/ACC Challenge” tonight, and Virginia hosts Iowa. The Cavaliers are more than twenty spots below the Hawkeyes in the Pomeroy rankings (which are hopefully getting better as the season goes along, as these rankings have also been hurting my feelings, and my wallet, which is my feelings), and Iowa averages 97.2 points per game against Virginia’s 61.4. I’m not saying Iowa will threaten 100 tonight, but that’s not a bad offense. Now, true, Iowa hasn’t really played anyone yet, but Virginia has - and they got smoked by Houston (which hurt my wallet, er, feelings) and they also lost to Navy. So maybe playing good teams isn’t all it’s cracked up to be sometimes. The Hawkeyes might be the second-best team in the Big 10 behind Michigan, so I think they come out ready to play tonight.
Notre Dame at Illinois, 9 pm Eastern
The Pick: Illinois -3.5 (-118), bet $11.80 to win $10; under 138.5 (-110), bet $5.50 to win $5
And Illinois might be the third-best team in the Big 10. They are according to Pomeroy, and I wouldn’t underestimate the chip on the shoulder the Illini carry when going up against a school in a neighboring state with a national reputation. Illinois will be fired up to defend their court against Notre Dame, who has been up-and-down so far this year, losing their only game against a good team, Saint Mary’s. Both teams shoot just over 44% and hold their opponents to under 65 points per game, which makes the under attractive. I like Illinois in a rock fight.