VCU at UMass College Basketball Picks & Predictions 2/21/2018

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

William D. Mullins Memorial Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The VCU Rams travel to William D. Mullins Memorial Center to play the UMass Minutemen on Wednesday, February 21, 2018. The opening line for this game has UMass as 1 point favorites.

VCU heads into this matchup with a mark of 15-12. They currently have a point differential of 0.7 as they are averaging 76.1 points per contest while giving up 75.4 per game. UMass has an overall record of 11-16. They are averaging 71.3 points per game and surrendering 73.8, good for a point differential of -2.5.

Valuable VCU Rams Betting Trends

The VCU Rams are 11-12 against the spread this season

The VCU Rams are 12-11 against the over/under this year

Important UMass Minutemen Betting Trends

The UMass Minutemen are 12-12 against the spread this season

The UMass Minutemen are 14-10 against the over/under this year

Key VCU Rams Injuries

11/10/17 G Marcus Evans Transferred is out for season

Key UMass Minutemen Injuries

11/05/17 G Jaylen Brantley Heart is out for season
02/20/18 C Khalea Turner-Morris Concussion is "?" Wednesday vs Va Commonwealth
02/12/18 F Chris Baldwin Quad is out for season
01/22/18 C Rashaan Holloway Academics is out for season

Player Spotlight

Justin Tillman averages 19 points per game while playing 30.4 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 9.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 0.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 42% while his free throw percentage is at 71%. De'Riante Jenkins averages 12.9 points per game in 29.9 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.5 assists per contest and 3.9 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 44% for the year while his free throw percentage is 78%.

Player Spotlight

Luwane Pipkins averages 20.9 points per game while playing 35.1 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 3.5 rebounds per game and has 4 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is at 79%. Carl Pierre averages 12.3 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 30.6 minutes per contest. He also averages 2 rebounds per contest and 1.1 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 81%.

Useful Team Statistics

VCU averages 76.1 points per contest this season, which ranks them 109th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 0.7 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 142nd. Behind the arc they shoot 35%, which is good for 197th in the country. They average 36.7 rebounds per game and 15.1 assists per game, which ranks them 107th and 92nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 112th with 13.7 per game. The Rams allow 75.4 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 261st in Division 1. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 267th and 185th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 35.0 rebounds a game which ranks 195th and they give up 14.4 assists per contest, which puts them in 257th place in college basketball. They force 13.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 172nd in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

UMass is 248th in the country with 71.3 points per game this year. They are 186th in D-1 in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is -2.5. They shoot 39% from 3-point range, which is good for 29th in college basketball. They are 304th in the nation in rebounding with 33.0 boards per game, and 66th in assists per contest with 15.4. The Minutemen are 186th in turnovers per game with 12.9. The Minutemen surrender 73.8 points per contest, which ranks them 224th in the country. Their defense allows a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 258th and 177th in those defensive statistics. They rank 325th with 16.0 assists allowed per contest and 138th with 34.0 rebounds surrendered per game. The Minutemen are 52nd in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 11.6 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Rams are 228th in the country in defensive rating with 104.3, and their offensive rating of 105.2 is ranked 160th. They are 100th in college basketball in pace with 71.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 153rd. As a unit they are 167th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shot attempts, ranking 163rd in D-1. VCU is 152nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 254th in the country.

Advanced Statistics

UMass is 137th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.7 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 222nd in Division 1. The Minutemen are 287th in the nation in defensive rating with 107.7, and their offensive rating of 104.1 is ranked 192nd. They are 297th in D-1 in pace with 67 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 143rd. As a unit they are 160th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shot attempts, ranking 146th in the country.

Who will win tonight's VCU/UMass college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take UMass -1

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