LSU vs Virginia Tech Prediction & Picks (Women’s Final Four Semifinal #1)

This year’s Women’s Final Four in Dallas will produce at least one first-time finalist, as LSU and Virginia Tech will meet tonight in the first semifinal at American Airlines Center (7:00 pm ET, ESPN).

The Tigers (32-2), the #3 seed in the Greenville 2 Regional, are back in the Final Four for the first time since making five consecutive appearances from 2004 to 2008.

In all five previous appearances, they failed to make it to the championship game, but they are favored for tonight’s matchup against the Hokies (31-4), who are in the Final Four for the first time after winning the Seattle 3 Regional as the top seed.

Will Angel Reese and the Tigers move on to face either South Carolina or Iowa, or will it be Elizabeth Kitley and the Hokies matching up with the Gamecocks or Hawkeyes on Sunday night? Read on for our LSU vs Virginia Tech prediction and picks.

Looking for More College Basketball Picks?

At Betting News, we will have predictions and picks for each game of the men’s and women’s Final Four.

• Iowa vs South Carolina Prediction & Picks (Semifinal #2)

But if you are interested in checking out picks elsewhere to get another perspective, there are a number of reputable sports handicapping services that we recommend.

One of those sources is Doc’s Sports, which has a great offer going right now.

Doc’s Sports offers a lot of free picks and content, but they also offer $60 worth of premium sports picks free for new premium signups.

LSU vs Virginia Tech Odds

Odds are via FanDuel as of Friday, March 31, 2023.

Spread

• LSU -1.5 (-118)
• Virginia Tech +1.5 (-104)

Over/Under

• Over 133.5 (-110)
• Under 133.5 (-110)

Moneyline

• LSU -134
• Virginia Tech +110

Can LSU Grind Out Another Win?

Since a loss at Duke on January 26, the Hokies have won 15 straight games, which has seen them capture the ACC Tournament title for the first time, earn a #1 seed for the first time, and reach the Final Four for the first time.

But oddsmakers appear to have a little more faith in LSU’s defense to continue getting the job done and in the championship pedigree of Hall of Fame coach Kim Mulkey.

Defense carried the Tigers past Miami in the Elite Eight, as they grinded out a 54-42 win over the Hurricanes. Miami shot only 31.6% (18 of 57) from the field, missed all 15 of their three-point attempts, and turned the ball over 18 times.

In the NCAA Tournament, LSU’s opponents have shot just 23.2% (19 of 82) from three and just 33.8% (69 of 204) overall from the field, and they have turned the ball over 71 times in four games.

That defense is going to have to come up big again tonight if LSU is to finally get over the hump. Things haven’t exactly clicked on all cylinders offensively, as they are shooting just 19.0% (11 of 58) from three and 37.5% (94 of 251) overall from the field in the NCAA Tournament.

But offensive rebounding and taking care of the basketball have helped the Tigers significantly. They have recorded 67 offensive rebounds, which comes out to an average of 16.8 per game. And they have turned the ball over just 42 times, which comes out to 10.5 turnovers per game.

Tonight’s matchup will be a stiffer test than any LSU has faced in the NCAA Tournament, however. The Tigers may have Reese, but the Hokies can counter with Kitley, who is averaging 15.8 PPG and 12.0 RPG in the tournament and went for 25 points and 12 boards in the Elite Eight against Ohio State.

It’s not all about the inside game for Virginia Tech either, as Georgia Amoore (34.9% three-point shooting on an average of 9.3 attempts per game) and Cayla King (37.3% three-point shooting on 5.8 attempts per game) like to fire away frequently.

LSU vs Virginia Tech Prediction and Picks

Prediction for LSU vs Virginia Tech: Virginia Tech to win

Picks for LSU vs Virginia Tech: LSU team total under 67.5 (Best Value: BetRivers) & Virginia Tech ML (Best Value: FanDuel & BetMGM)

Virginia Tech may have given up 74 points to Ohio State in the Elite Eight, but they are pretty stout defensively themselves. That was only the fifth time all season that they surrendered 70 or more points and broke a run of ten straight games with under 70 points allowed.

So, if LSU is going to win, it likely won’t be by taking this game into the 70s or perhaps even the high 60s.

That said, I like the Hokies to take the win and deny a potential all-SEC final. They have the goods to counter what Reese and LSU bring to the table, and they will find a way to overcome the Tigers tonight.

Where to Bet on LSU vs Virginia Tech

Here are four legal sports betting sites that we highly recommend and have reviewed, where you can bet on this year’s NCAA men’s and women’s tournaments, as well as the 2023 NIT.

March is always a very popular time to bet on college basketball, and you can get in on the action at any of the top sports betting sites out there.

But these four books are all reputable names, and you can trust them with your betting funds.

Other March Madness Content at Betting News

If you’d like to check out our other NIT and March Madness betting content, here’s a rundown of what we have put together to help you with your college basketball betting until the season wraps up in Houston on April 3.

• NIT Bracket & Odds
• Men’s March Madness Bracket
• March Madness Odds
• Women’s March Madness Bracket & Odds
• Final Four Odds
• March Madness Sleepers
• March Madness Betting Trends & Stats to Know for 2023
• Where to Find the Best March Madness Betting Picks
• Best March Madness Betting Sites
• Best March Madness Bracket Challenges
• Betting News Bracket Mania (Our FREE March Madness Bracket Challenge! – CLOSED but you can look at the standings and entries)