James Madison Dukes vs VCU Rams Prediction, 12/22/2020 College Basketball Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: James Madison Dukes vs VCU Rams

Date: Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Location: Stuart C. Siegel Center in Richmond, VA

TV: ESPN+

Odds/Point Spread: James Madison (+20.5)

The VCU Rams (6-2) play the James Madison Dukes (2-2) at Stuart C. Siegel Center on Tuesday. VCU opens this game as 20.5-point favorites. The over/under is set at 143.5.

James Madison will take the court with a record of 2-2 for the season. They are averaging 73.3 pts per game (174th in the nation) while hitting 41.8% from the floor. The Dukes are hitting 30.1% on shots from beyond the arc (28 of 93) and 71.3% from the free throw line. As a team, James Madison is pulling down 35.8 rebounds per game and has 47 dimes on the year, which is 279th in D-1 in terms of passing the ball. They are losing possession via turnover 13.5 times per game and as a team are committing 20.5 fouls on a nightly basis. Defensively, the Dukes are able to force 18.6 turnovers per contest and they draw 18.6 personal fouls. They currently rank 113th in the country in giving up assists to their opponents with 64 surrendered this season. The Dukes defense is allowing a FG percentage of 40.6% (113 of 278) and they relinquish 35.6 rebounds per contest as a team. They give up 29.6% on three-point shots and they are 89th in college basketball in points per game allowed (65.0).

The James Madison Dukes stepped onto the hardwood against the Alice Lloyd College Eagles and earned the victory with a final of 98-55 in their last game. James Madison finished having earned a 54.5% field goal percentage (36 of 66) and made 13 of their 31 3-pointers. From the free throw line, the Dukes converted 13 of their 19 attempts for a rate of 68.4%. In regard to grabbing rebounds, they earned 44 with 14 of them being on the offensive end. They also doled out 23 assists in the game in addition to having 8 steals and 6 blocks. In the matter of the defense, James Madison allowed their opponent to shoot 54.5% from the field on 36 out of 66. Alice Lloyd College distributed 14 dimes and 8 steals in this game. In addition, the Eagles snagged 30 rebounds (13 offensive, 17 defensive) and earned 6 blocked shots. Alice Lloyd College finished 66.7% from the charity stripe by knocking down 4 of 6 shots. They also made 5 out of their 26 tries from 3-point range.

Julien Wooden is one guy who was a major contributor in this game. He finished with 11 points on 5 of 9 shooting. He was on the hardwood for 17 mins and also snagged 2 rebounds. Wooden finished the game at 55.6% from the floor and earned 2 dimes. Someone else that was a determining factor in this game for the Dukes was Matt Lewis. He pulled down 2 rebounds and tallied 3 dimes. He ended up shooting 71.4% from the field in the game by shooting 10-of-14 (29 points). Overall, Lewis played for 25 minutes.

VCU has a mark of 6-2 this season. When it comes to executing on offense, the Rams are shooting 48.3% from the field, which has them ranked 84th in the nation. VCU has 615 pts for the year (76.9 per game) and they pull in 33.8 rebounds per contest. They are dishing out assists 14.9 times per game (103rd in the country) and they turn it over 14.8 times per game. The Rams have committed 19.5 fouls every game and they connect on 76.6% from the charity stripe. The Rams defensively are ranked 57th in college hoops in PPG allowed with 62.6. The VCU defense allows 28.2% on shots from beyond the perimeter (44 of 156) and their opposition knocks down 69.0% of their shots from the charity stripe. They surrender 10.6 assists and 33.4 rebounds on a nightly basis, which has them ranked 63rd and 107th in college basketball. They are able to force 18.4 turnovers per game and allow teams to shoot 38.8% from the field (58th in college hoops).

The last time they took the hardwood, the VCU Rams got the victory with a final of 93-68 when they faced the Western Carolina Catamounts. The Rams were able to pull down 23 defensive rebounds and 4 offensive boards totaling 27 in this game. They stuffed 2 tries while recording 13 steals for the contest. The Catamounts earned 10 personal fouls in this matchup which got the Rams to the free throw line for 10 shots. They were able to knock down 9 of those for a clip of 90.0%. When it comes to shooting from beyond the arc, VCU buried 10 of 24 attempts (41.7%). In all, the Rams finished 37 for 63 from the field which gave them a shooting percentage of 58.7%. The Rams allowed the Catamounts to convert 25 out of 55 attempts from the floor which gave them a shooting percentage of 45.5% for the matchup. They went 32.0% from beyond the arc by connecting on 8 out of 25 and finished the game at 10 of 11 from the charity stripe (90.9%). With respect to attacking the glass, VCU permitted Western Carolina to pull down 23 overall (2 on the offensive glass).

Vince Williams played a lot for the Rams for the game. He made 4 of 8 for the game for a field goal rate of 50.0%, which gave him 10 points. Williams grabbed 6 rebounds in his 31 minutes played and had 4 dimes in this contest. An additional guy that was important for VCU was Nah'Shon Hyland. He totaled 31 points in 28 minutes played by going 11 out of 17 from the floor for the matchup. Hyland ended up shooting 64.7% from the field as well as totaling 3 assists and 2 boards.

So what is Tonights Parlay prediction?

Parlay's Pundit's Pick: Take VCU (-20.5) and over 143.5 points

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here