Rhode Island at VCU Expert NCAA Basketball Picks 3/15/2019

Friday, March 15, 2019

Barclays Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Rhode Island Rams head to Barclays Center to take on the VCU Rams on Friday, March 15, 2019. The opening line for this game has VCU as 7.5 point favorites.

Rhode Island comes into this game with an overall record of 16-14. They currently have a point differential of 1.6 as they are averaging 69.7 points per game while giving up 68.1 per contest. VCU has an overall record of 25-6. They are averaging 71.5 points per game and surrendering 61.2, good for a point differential of 10.3.

Valuable Rhode Island Rams Betting Trends

The Rhode Island Rams are 14-17-0 against the spread this season

The Rhode Island Rams are 16-13-1 against the over/under this year

Important VCU Rams Betting Trends

The VCU Rams are 20-10-1 against the spread this season

The VCU Rams are 12-18-1 against the over/under this year

Key Rhode Island Rams Injuries

03/11/19 G Omar Silverio Personal is questionable Thursday vs LaSalle

Key VCU Rams Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Jeff Dowtin comes into this game averaging 15.3 points per contest while playing 36.8 minutes per night this year. He grabs 3.5 rebounds per contest and distributes 3.9 assists per game. His FG percentage is 44% while his free throw percentage is 74%. Cyril Langevine averages 14.6 points per contest in 32.2 minutes per game. He averages 0.9 assists per game and 9.9 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 56% for the season while his free throw percentage is 59%.

Player Spotlight

Marcus Evans scores 14.3 points per contest while playing 27.4 minutes per game. He hauls in 3.1 rebounds per contest and has 3.3 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is at 77%. De'Riante Jenkins averages 11.3 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 27.6 minutes per game. He also brings in 3.9 rebounds per game and has 2.0 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is 74%.

Useful Team Statistics

Rhode Island averages 69.7 points per contest, which is 255th in D-1. Their average scoring margin is 1.6 and their shooting percentage is 43% as a unit, which has them ranked 253rd. From 3-point territory they shoot 28%, which is good for 351st in the nation. They average 36.2 boards per contest and 12.2 assists per game, which ranks them 133rd and 268th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 229th with 12.4 per game. The Rams allow 68.1 points per contest, which is 88th in the NCAA. They also surrender a 43% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 137th and 87th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 34.3 rebounds a game which ranks 148th, and they allow 12.4 assists per game which puts them in 118th place in the country. They force 14.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 260th in Division 1.

Useful Team Statistics

VCU is 207th in the nation with 71.5 points per contest this season. They are 177th in the country in shooting at 44%, while their average scoring margin is 10.3. They shoot 31% from beyond the arc, which is good for 334th in the NCAA. They are 106th in D-1 in rebounding with 36.7 boards per contest and 132nd in assists per game with 13.9. The Rams are 86th in turnovers per contest with 14.0. The Rams give up 61.2 points per game, which ranks them 7th in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 38% shooting percentage and a 27% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 6th and 2nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 34th with 10.9 dimes allowed per game and 201st with 35.2 boards surrendered per contest. The Rams are 338th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 16.4 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Rams are 257th in the nation in offensive rating with 100.5. In terms of pace they are 219th in the country with 68.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 48% is 315th. As a team they are 312th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 51% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shots, ranking 320th in Division 1. Rhode Island is 242nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.3 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

VCU is 72nd in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17.4 times per 100 possessions. The Rams are 193rd in the country in offensive rating with 102.7. In terms of pace they are 187th in Division 1 with 69 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 192nd. As a team they are 185th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 41% of their shots, ranking 99th in the nation.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Rhode Island +7.5

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