Virginia Cavaliers vs Queens University Royals Picks and Predictions November 28th 2025

Game Preview: Queens Royals @ Virginia Cavaliers

Virginia fans continue adjusting to a new era as the Virginia Cavaliers push into Friday’s matchup against the Queens Royals at John Paul Jones Arena. With 12 new players and an up-tempo system under first-year coach Ryan Odom, Virginia enters at 5-1 and averaging 86.5 points per game—far removed from the methodical pace that defined the Tony Bennett years. Queens arrives at 3-4 after a road loss to Furman, aiming to challenge a Cavaliers team that has scored at least 80 points in five of its first six games, a program-first achievement.

Virginia is coming off an 80-73 defeat to Butler at the Greenbrier Tip-Off, a game in which the Cavaliers again started slowly before finding rhythm late. Odom saw hesitation in stretches and stressed the need to help players “unleash who they are” as the new system continues to settle. THijs De Ridder and Malik Thomas headline an attack rooted in spacing, tempo and individual scoring creation. Both have adapted quickly to Odom’s open-floor principles.

For Queens, backcourt scoring fuels its offensive ceiling. The Royals enter averaging 82.4 points per game behind Chris Ashby, Nasir Mann and Yoav Berman. Queens’ low-turnover showing at Furman—just four giveaways—was a bright spot despite a wire-to-wire loss. Coach Grant Leonard praised the team’s growth in ball security, a crucial factor in handling Virginia’s enhanced pace and pressure. This matchup fits neatly into a high-scoring Friday slate reviewed across the NCAAB previews hub, where tempo differentials shape early-season lines.

Odds and Key Information

Virginia opened as a 22.5-point home favorite with a total at 160.5. The Cavaliers’ scoring surge and rebounding advantage significantly influenced the line, while Queens’ reliance on perimeter shooting contributed to a high opening total. Bettors reviewing numbers on the college basketball scores and odds page have shown early interest in Virginia’s side, reinforcing the program’s strong home-court reputation.

Queens enters winless on the road, and with Virginia undefeated at home, oddsmakers expect the Cavaliers to dictate pace. With Odom’s system generating increased possessions per game, the total sits higher than most Virginia matchups in previous seasons.

Queens Royals Outlook

Queens’ trajectory this season revolves around perimeter efficiency and ball movement. The Royals are averaging 10.6 made threes per game, ranking inside the nation’s top 40. Their 47.6 percent shooting mark and 82.4 points per game give them the firepower to challenge high-major opponents, particularly with Ashby hitting 44.3 percent from deep and Mann providing efficient secondary scoring. Mann’s 94 percent free-throw shooting adds value late in competitive sequences.

The Royals’ biggest challenge lies in their defensive profile. They have struggled to contain interior scoring and often foul at a high rate, issues that can be costly against a Virginia team that thrives when it can create driving lanes and capitalize on mismatches. Their frontcourt rotation must stay disciplined to limit Virginia’s offensive rebounding; opponents have frequently generated easy put-backs, something highlighted in efficiency breakdowns across the NCAAB team index.

Maintaining low turnovers is essential. The four-turnover performance at Furman demonstrated improved execution, and Queens must replicate that level of ball security to stay within range of the spread. Jabriel’s emergence with a career-high 16 points gives Queens another option to challenge defensive coverage.

Virginia Cavaliers Outlook

With a 5-1 record and scoring outputs not seen in more than a decade, Virginia’s offensive turnaround continues to draw attention. De Ridder’s 17.5 points per game and interior scoring versatility pair well with Thomas’ perimeter shot creation. The Cavaliers’ pace increase has also allowed deeper rotation usage, giving bench scorers more opportunities to contribute within Odom’s transition-driven scheme.

Virginia’s rebounding strength—45.3 per game—has been a decisive element in early-season wins, ranking among the best outputs through the season’s first month across the college basketball picks page. Odom’s emphasis on tempo and spacing has elevated scoring without sacrificing the competitive edge he expects from his roster.

Defensive sharpness remains a point of focus. Virginia’s slower starts at the Greenbrier Tip-Off included breakdowns in ball containment and late closeouts, areas Odom intends to refine. With the Cavaliers scoring at least 80 points in every outing but their most recent, consistency on both ends will determine whether they maintain top-tier efficiency metrics heading into ACC play.

Queens’ perimeter-heavy attack will test Virginia’s communication, especially against a team that moves the ball well from side to side and attacks closeouts. Expect Virginia to emphasize transition defense and force tougher mid-range attempts.

Key Matchup Table

Category	Queens Royals	Virginia Cavaliers
Record	3-4	5-1
Offensive Strength	82.4 PPG; 10.6 threes/game	86.5 PPG; balanced scoring
Key Scorers	Ashby, Mann, Berman	De Ridder 17.5 PPG; Thomas 14.3 PPG
Rebounding	Vulnerable inside	45.3 RPG; strong offensive boards
Pace Profile	High-tempo; perimeter driven	Up-tempo shift from prior system
Road/Home Form	0-3 on road	5-1 at home

Betting Trends

Virginia has covered in four of its six games, supported by elite scoring efficiency and consistent production across lineups. Their transition into a faster-paced system has driven higher totals, and bettors exploring trends on the college basketball odds portal are noting the Cavaliers’ strong home edge. Their 5-1 mark as favorites also aligns with their performance profile.

Queens trends toward overs due to their three-point frequency and defensive shortcomings. Their road struggles amplify volatility, especially in games where opponent tempo is higher than average. With both teams playing fast, total markets have drawn early activity on both sides.

Virginia’s rebounding edge and interior scoring efficiency have consistently produced separation, particularly in second halves. Queens, while capable of short scoring bursts, has struggled to defend without fouling, a pattern that could inflate Virginia’s scoring if early foul trouble emerges.

The Lean

Virginia’s offensive pace, depth and rebounding advantage present significant matchup challenges for Queens. The Royals’ perimeter shooting keeps them competitive early, but Virginia’s ability to generate paint scoring and push tempo should create separation as the first half progresses. With Odom emphasizing cleaner starts, expect Virginia to attack aggressively from the opening tip.

Projected Score: Virginia 90, Queens 65
Best Spread Pick: Virginia -22.5
Total Lean: Under 160.5

Late-season NCAAB evaluations on the NCAAB previews hub highlight similar mismatches where rebounding dominance and pace control drive cover potential for top-tier favorites.

Why You Need Expert Picks

As teams adjust to new systems and rotations early in the season, betting edges often surface in pace mismatches and roster overhauls. The Handicappers Leaderboard helps bettors identify consistent analysts who have demonstrated sharp reads on high-variance spreads like Queens vs Virginia. Expert projections often isolate underlying factors such as ball-security mismatches, transition-defense reliability and efficiency gaps.

For bettors developing systematic strategies, the expert betting guide provides adaptable frameworks for understanding totals movement, shot-quality differentials and matchup leverage—core components of predicting large-spread NCAAB games like this one.