VCU vs Saint Louis bets end our week for the College Basketball Vegas odds this Friday night. The A10 gets pretty entertaining but can be a bit of a slugfest sometimes. Can the Rams go on the road and fend off a nasty Billikens team? Naturally, can VCU cover? With the way, VCU is playing, could they be be a team that makes it to March Madness? We take a closer look.
VCU vs Saint Louis bets keep VCU rolling this Friday night. No college basketball matchup is ever ready. As of Thursday, unranked teams were 34-34 on the road against Top 10 teams this season. Now, that is one insane stat. Granted, VCU is far from a Top 10 squad. However, they are playing like a ranked team nonetheless. After all, this is a team that took down Dayton last Friday night.
Naturally, this is one of only two games televised nationally on Friday night. New Mexico and San Diego State play late on FS1. This would be the early game. Unfortunately, there are other problems with this one like will a week layoff impact the Rams? It’s a great question. On the other hand, VCU was a bit banged up as that 49-47 win over the Flyers proved.
Second chances are rare in the middle tier. The A10 is no exception. If we looked at this game in early January, Saint Louis might have almost been a favorite here. Ryan Odom’s team was near .500 and looked ragged after two losses to St. Bonventure. Now, they are fresh off their biggest win of the season. The question is. Can they follow up and keep their run going?
Now, can VCU get to win number 17? Bovada Vegas Online Sportsbook Review hammers in with a 5-point spread as everyone else. However, it was that -108 number which definitely must be considered. The Over of 144 is also at -105.
VCU vs Saint Louis bets love siding with the hotter VCU team. The Rams remain a risky but fun wager on the road. Even with the Saint Louis record of 9-15 and 2-9 in the A10, anything can happen. Saint Louis lost to this same VCU team at Richmond by 24 points. This matchup figures to be closer but by how much. The Billikens dropped seven of their previous eight games in conference.
Currently, home teams hold court even in matchups like this. It seems the favored team looking for a spot in the tournament stumbles in a scenario like this. Ryan Odom is the son of David Odom. He knows how to coach in this game and knows trap games. VCU is now the hunted after winning eight of the last nine games. The Rams are now 8-3 in conference and peaking at the right time with the Conference Tournament weeks away.
So, can VCU avoid the trap? However, one thing is for sure. Saint Louis will try to up the tempo. They allow 77.6 points per game under Travis Ford which represents one of the worst defenses in college basketball. The Billikens yielded 80 or more points in six of the past seven games. VCU is stingy defensively giving up a mere 65.1 points a contest. Defense usually wins out here.
Bettors want to take the hotter team on Friday night and believe that VCU can win by more than five points over Saint Louis.
VCU vs Saint Louis bets ask will we go with the dangerous under here? Bettors feel like the bottom could fall out a bit offensively between these two teams. That may be risky thinking. No one expects a combined 96 points like last Friday’s Dayton-VCU contest. Yes, that was ugly. The teams combined to shoot 9-for-38 from three point range and a mere six offensive rebounds. It was one of the weirder games you will see.
So, if this number stays at 144.5 or less, that is a solid boost. Some originally feared that these two teams could see a number hovering close to 150. Now, that was possible because of how many points a game the Billikens are giving up lately. When a team keeps allowing 80+ points, the reputation often precedes them. No one is expecting Joseph Bamisile to pop off for 29 points again.
College Basketball Prime Picks roll with that Game Total and say to nail that under sitting at 144.5. This is because we project both teams around 65-70 points. If this went to Overtime, that concerns us a little bit but that feels less likely now.
Therefore, the VCU vs Saint Louis Bets take the Under of 144.5 but will not go lower. The key is can VCU play its tempo as opposed to the Saint Louis pace. The belief is yes they can.
Great NCAA basketball online betting sites look toward the weekend. Even Auburn and Kentucky carries some intrigue too. Also, did we mention that Marquette and UConn clash? Furthermore, we see if Kansas can finally bounce back against Oklahoma on the road. Finally, VCU vs Saint Louis bets set up an entertaining weekend of college hoops.
Friday night plays out like the perfect appetizer. Good luck!
Chris Wassel is someone who has covered a little bit of everything: business, writing, sports, food, grilling, the Olympics, injuries, politics, and more. He has climbed mountains like Mount Washington and Mount San Jacinto in Palm Springs, California, and for those who don’t know, he is also big into food challenges. With friends like Joey Chestnut and Casey Webb, Chris has tackled eating feats like finishing a 16-pound turkey or a 32-inch meat lover's pizza. Since 2013, he has focused on fitness, fishing, and sports while managing to fit in running, hiking, rock climbing, and even the occasional mini-triathlon. He can lift more than his body weight with ease and is the person you turn to when you want to know if a NASCAR rain delay means a Monday race. Over his career, Chris has worked at places like Amazon, USA Today, and various rumors and fantasy sports sites. He has been nominated for awards such as the Fantasy Sports Writers Association's Hockey Writer of the Year and has a collection of high-stakes fantasy trophies and rings on display at home. With all this, Chris sums it up best with his motto: "Shut up and play."