The VCU Rams (21-6, 12-2 A-10) are set to face off against the No. 19 Saint Louis Billikens (23-2, 11-1) on Friday in a crucial Atlantic-10 matchup. The game will take place at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Missouri, with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, airing on ESPN2.
In their last outing, VCU extended its impressive winning streak to ten games, defeating the George Washington Revolutionaries 89-75 as 5.5-point favorites. Tyrell Ward contributed significantly to the victory, scoring 15 points off the bench, with six Rams reaching double figures. Throughout this winning streak, VCU has been a consistent favorite and holds a 5-5 record against the spread.
On the other hand, the Billikens are coming off a disappointing 81-76 loss to Rhode Island, suffering their first setback of the conference season. Saint Louis had been on an 18-game winning streak before this defeat, with Robbie Avila leading the team with 21 points and 5 rebounds. The loss came after a strong start this season, as they had been positioned as 9.5-point favorites against Rhode Island.
The two teams previously met on January 7, where Saint Louis took a decisive victory, winning 71-62 as 3.5-point underdogs.
Current odds from BetMGM Sportsbook indicate Saint Louis as the favorite, with a moneyline of -350 against VCU’s +275. The spread shows VCU at +7.5 while the over/under is set at 164.5.
Experts predict a close contest, favoring Saint Louis with a score of 79-73. However, the previous loss for the Billikens may serve as a beneficial learning experience as the postseason approaches. Saint Louis has defeated VCU in their last two meetings, and although they’re favored, the current spread might be too steep.
VCU is presenting an efficient offense, ranked 34th in the nation with an average of 83.7 points per game. This offensive potency suggests they can remain competitive against the Billikens, who are ranked sixth nationally at 90.2 PPG. Analysts recommend taking the under on the total points given the tight competition expected in this crucial game.
As the season progresses, this matchup will not only serve as a potential preview of the Atlantic-10 title game, but it also holds significant implications for both teams as they look to solidify their standings heading into the tournament. The anticipation surrounding this encounter illustrates the intensity and excitement of college basketball as teams gear up for the final stretch of the season.