VCU Rams vs Rhode Island Rams Prediction, 2/3/2021 College Basketball Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: VCU Rams vs Rhode Island Rams

Date: Wednesday, February 3, 2021

Location: Ryan Center in Kingston, RI

TV: ESPN+

Odds/Point Spread: VCU (+1.5)

Ryan Center is the site where and the Rhode Island Rams (9-9) will play the VCU Rams (12-4) on Wednesday. Rhode Island opens this matchup as 1.5-point favorites. The total has been set at 136.5.

VCU heads into this one with a record of 12-4 this season. They are averaging 74.3 points per contest (124th in D-1) while shooting 45.9% from the field. The Rams are connecting on 34.0% on shots from distance (110 of 324) and 75.2% from the charity stripe. As a team, VCU is collecting 34.9 rebounds per contest and has totaled 222 assists so far this season, which has them ranked 109th in Division 1 in terms of passing the rock. They lose possession by turning the ball over 15.8 times per contest and as a group they are committing 19.6 personal fouls every game. On the defensive end, the Rams have forced 18.4 turnovers per game while drawing 17.6 fouls. The Rams defense is allowing a FG percentage of 40.0% (358 of 896) and they surrender 34.6 rebounds per game as a squad. They are 154th in Division 1 in allowing assists to the opposition with 178 surrendered so far this season. They are conceding 30.1% on shots from downtown and they rank 71st in Division 1 in PPG allowed (65.1).

The VCU Rams stepped onto the hardwood against the La Salle Explorers and earned the victory with a final of 73-62 in their last contest. VCU finished the contest with a 45.3% field goal percentage (24 out of 53) and made 4 of 15 shots from downtown. From the free throw line, the Rams knocked down 21 of their 26 tries for a percentage of 80.8%. Regarding grabbing boards, they collected 35 with 12 of them being of the offensive sort. They also distributed 11 assists in this contest while earning 9 steals and 2 rejections. With respect to defense, VCU let their opponent shoot 45.3% from the floor on 24 of 53 shooting. La Salle doled out 11 dimes and had 8 steals in this game. Furthurmore, the Explorers pulled down 26 rebounds (9 offensive, 17 defensive) and got 2 blocks. La Salle shot 70.6% when shooting free throws by knocking down 12 of their 17 attempts. They also buried 6 of their 22 attempts from beyond the perimeter.

Nah'Shon Hyland is a player who was important in this matchup. He finished with 24 points on 5 out of 10 shooting. He was on the hardwood for 35 minutes and collected 4 boards. Hyland ended up going 50.0% from the field and also earned 4 dimes. Another guy that was a determining factor in the game for the Rams was Hason Ward. He grabbed 10 boards and also collected 2 dimes. He finished shooting 85.7% from the floor for the contest by shooting 6-of-7 (13 points). Overall, Ward was on the court for 27 min.

Rhode Island has a mark of 9-9 for the season. Rhode Island has 1,293 points on the year (71.8 per game) and they grab 38.4 boards per game. The Rams are committing 18.1 fouls per contest and they go 68.1% from the free throw line. As an offense, the Rams are hitting on 45.3% from the field, which has them ranked 124th in the nation. They are dishing out assists 11.4 times per contest (289th in college basketball) and they are turning it over 15.2 times per game. The Rams on the defensive side of the court are 150th in D-1 in points allowed per game with 68.6. They have forced 12.9 turnovers per game and have let teams shoot 40.1% from the field (42nd in college hoops). The Rhode Island defense concedes 31.4% on 3-point shots (129 of 411) and their opponents are knocking down 68.7% of their free throw shots. They have given up 12.5 dimes and 33.9 boards on a nightly basis, which ranks them 151st and 131st in those defensive categories.

For their last game, the Rhode Island Rams took a defeat with a final score of 67-56 against the Dayton Flyers. The Rams recorded 20 defensive boards and 9 offensive boards for a total of 29 in the matchup. They stuffed 4 attempts while recording 2 steals for the contest. The Flyers committed 15 fouls for this contest which took the Rams to the free throw line for a total of 14 attempts. They were able to make 9 of the free throws for a percentage of 64.3%. In regard to shooting from downtown, Rhode Island knocked down 5 out of 22 attempts (22.7%). In all, the Rams finished the game shooting 21 for 56 from the field which had them sitting at 37.5%. The Rams allowed the Flyers to make 27 of 57 attempts from the field which gave them a percentage of 47.4% in this matchup. They went 31.8% from behind the 3-point line by hitting 7 of 22 and finished the game at 6 out of 8 at the free throw line (75.0%). Regarding team rebounding, Rhode Island permitted Dayton to grab 34 in total (7 offensive).

Jeremy Sheppard ended up being a major contributor for the Rams for this contest. He buried 6 out of 11 for the matchup for a field goal percentage of 54.5%, which had him sitting at 16 points. Sheppard grabbed 6 rebounds in his 33 minutes and totaled 2 assists in the matchup. One more player who came through for Rhode Island was Makhel Mitchell. He notched 12 points in his 26 minutes on the court via 5 out of 12 from the floor in the game. Mitchell wrapped this one up going 41.7% from the field and also earning 2 assists and 6 total rebounds.

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

Tony Sink's Pick: Take VCU (+1.5)

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