Two of the top defensive teams in the nation throw down when #2 Virginia heads to the Carrier Dome to battle the Syracuse Orange.

Virginia-Syracuse highlights a Monday in college hoops that also includes Kansas State taking on TCU and Texas Tech hosting rival Texas. Check out BetAmerica odds, analysis, and a free pick for all 3 matchups tonight and get your week started off right!

[Monday, Feb. 4]

#2 Virginia Cavaliers -5.5 at Syracuse Orange (7:00pm ET)

The Cavaliers rarely lose basketball games straight up. They had been on a slide against the spread, though, before the 69-61 win over North Carolina on Feb. 11. In that matchup, UVA used their brand of defense to shut down a high-scoring UNC squad.

Syracuse doesn’t score a lot of points. The Orange will look to lockdown the surging Cavaliers, who are 5-1 ATS in their last 6. The Cavaliers are also 9-1 ATS on the road, 8-2 ATS in their last 10 versus a team with a winning percentage above .600, and 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points.

Some trends favor Syracuse, but the one that stands out is more important than the rest. The Orange are only 1-10 ATS in their last 11 home games versus a team with a winning percentage above .600. Virginia’s burned every team this season that’s tried to play their style. They dominated the Orange 59-44 in the last matchup. We should expect a similar margin of victory tonight.

NCAAB Free Pick: Virginia -5.5

#15 Kansas State Wildcats -1.0 at TCU Horned Frogs (9:00pm ET)

Although Kansas State-TCU doesn’t have the allure of Virginia-Syracuse, the matchup between the Wildcats and Horned Frogs might be more competitive. TCU is only 1-5 both SU and ATS in their last 6, which begs the question, how can they be offering even money odds versus K-State?

Even in the last matchup the Wildcats dominated, beating TCU 65-55. K-State is 5-1 SU in their last 6. If they end up going off as the favorite, they should cover. The Wildcats are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games, 10-2-1 ATS in their last 13 versus the Big 12, and 6-1 ATS in their last 7 road games versus a team with a winning home record.

TCU is not only 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games, they’re also 1-4 ATS in the last 5 meetings. Kansas State offers great value at even money. They’re the team to back.

NCAAB Free Pick: Kansas State -1.0

Texas Longhorns at #11 Texas Tech Red Raiders -7.5 (9:00pm ET)

Texas Tech has been fantastic both straight up and against the spread. The Red Raiders are 7-0 SU and 6-1 ATS in their last 7. They most definitely should cover versus the Longhorns, who are 2-3 SU in their last 5.

But Texas has been just as good as Texas Tech against the spread. The Longhorns are 8-2 ATS in their last 10, and 4-0 ATS in their last 4. They only lost by 6 in the last matchup with the Red Raiders, are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 versus a team with a winning percentage above .600, and 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings. Taking the points in this rivalry makes sense.

NCAAB Free Pick: Texas +7.5