The VCU Rams (24-6, 15-2 A10), 13-point favorites, welcome the Saint Joseph’s Hawks (13-17, 6-11 A10) to Stuart Siegel Center as the regular season wraps up. The game’s Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 138 points and it can be seen on ESPN2 at 9 p.m. ET on Friday, March 8, 2019.
Saint Joseph’s Hawks at VCU Rams Betting Odds
In the Rams’ previous game, they easily covered the 6-point spread against the George Mason Patriots, 71-36. The Hawks, on the other hand, were beat by the Rhode Island Rams, 86-85, and were not able to cover as 2.5-point underdogs. The VCU game went 33 points under the projected point total of 140, while the Saint Joseph’s game finished 33 points over the projected point total of 138.
VCU dominated nearly every facet of the game. They had an effective field goal percentage of 0.485 (below their season average of 0.506) and a turnover percentage of 15.5 (better than their season average of 17.8). George Mason had marks of 0.265 and 27.7, respectively, for those same stats. Saint Joseph’s, meanwhile, held Rhode Island to an offensive rebounding percentage of 15.4 (below their season average of 32.0). Marcus Evans had a good game for VCU, finishing with 13 points. Meanwhile, Saint Joseph’s rallied around Jared Bynum, who put up 19 points and seven assists.
The Hawks won the sole contest between these two teams last season, 87-81. Saint Joseph’s did a great job of getting to and converting from the charity stripe (29-38; 76.3 percent). VCU, meanwhile, had a much better offensive rebounding percentage (29.3 vs. 21.7). This will be the first matchup of the year between these two teams.
Hawks games have no tendency in regards to the projected point total, as there has been an even split between games finishing over and under. Saint Joseph’s heads into the game with records of 13-17 straight up (SU) and 11-18-1 against the spread (ATS).
Games featuring the Rams tend to finish under the total (56.7 percent). Moreover, VCU owns records of 24-6 SU and 19-10-1 ATS.
Looking at effective field goal percentage, VCU should have a substantial advantage. The Rams defense ranks second in effective field goal percentage allowed (0.428), while the Saint Joseph’s offense is ranked 302nd in effective field goal percentage (0.481). Also, the Hawks commit the second-fewest errors in the NCAA (turnover percentage of 13.6 percent), while the disruptive defense of the Rams causes the eighth-most (opponents’ turnover percentage of 24.0 percent).
Saint Joseph’s at VCU Free Pick
Prediction: SU Winner – VCU, ATS Winner – VCU, O/U – Under
Betting Notes:
- VCU ranks 14th in three pointers allowed per game (18.4) while Saint Joseph’s ranks 261st (26.3).
- The Rams rank 88th in rebounds per game (36.8) while the Hawks rank 219th in rebounds allowed per game (36.7).
- VCU ranks 27th in blocks per game (4.5) while Saint Joseph’s ranks 106th (3.3).
- The Rams rank 30th in assists allowed per game (10.9) while the Hawks rank 230th (15.2).
- VCU ranks 22nd in steals per game (8.1) while Saint Joseph’s ranks 177th (5.5).
- Saint Joseph’s is 5-10 ATS on the road, while VCU is 9-6-1 ATS at home.
- The total has gone under in 9 of the Rams’ 16 home games, while 9 of the Hawks’ 15 road games have gone over.
Bettings Trends:
- In their last five games, Saint Joseph’s and VCU are both 3-2 ATS.
- The Hawks have 3 overs and 2 unders over their last five games, while the Rams have 3 unders and 2 overs
- During their last five games, the Hawks have scored an average of 74.8 points per game (4.4 above their season average) and allowed an average of 72.0 points per game (0.2 below their season average).
- The Rams’ average margin of victory in their last five games has been 21.2, up from 10.3 for the season.
