UVA favored vs. visiting Boston College tonight

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Virginia has an opportunity, beginning tonight, to grab some momentum in ACC play when the Cavaliers host Boston College in a battle of two struggling teams.

Tipoff at John Paul Jones Arena is 7 p.m. (ACC Network) and UVA is a 7- to 8.5-point favorite, according to various oddsmakers. Virginia is 8-10, 1-6 ACC, while BC is 9-9, 1-6.

The Cavaliers are riding a five-game losing streak, while BC has lost four in a row. The Eagles’ lone conference win came against Miami.

Virginia has a chance to stack some wins over the next couple of weeks, facing BC, Notre Dame (Saturday), Miami, Virginia Tech, Pitt and Georgia Tech. All of those opponents, with the exception of Pitt, are presently in the bottom half of the ACC standings.

Boston College features a familiar name to Wahoo fans in Donald Hand Jr., the son of former Virginia star point guard Donald Hand. The 6-foot-5 youngster is averaging 15 points and nearly 7 rebounds a game for the Eagles.