A10 foes will collide when the Massachusetts Minutemen (11-16, 4-10 A10) meet the VCU Rams (15-12, 7-7 A10) at William D. Mullins Center. Neither team is favored and the game’s Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 151 points. Action gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, February 21, 2018.
VCU Rams at Massachusetts Minutemen Free Preview
The Rams got blown out by the George Washington Colonials in their last game, 80-56. With 11 points on 5-for-10 shooting, Justin Tillman led VCU in scoring. George Washington did a great job of converting from the free throw line (14-18; 77.8 percent). VCU, meanwhile, had a better offensive rebounding percentage (35.0 vs. 34.5).
In the Minutemen’s last game, they were thoroughly outplayed by the Davidson Wildcats, 83-78. Luwane Pipkins was Massachusetts’ high scorer with 31 points on 11-for-24 shooting. Davidson did a great job of converting from the free throw line (21-28; 75.0 percent). Massachusetts, on the other hand, had a turnover percentage of 8.4 (better than their season average of 17.0).
Massachusetts could have trouble getting to the free throw line in this battle. The Minutemen currently rank 336th in the nation with a free throw attempt (FTA) rate of 0.179, while VCU ranks 90th in FTA rate allowed (0.210).
Of VCU’s 23 games with betting action, 12 have finished over the projected point total, while 14 of Massachusetts’ 24 games have finished over the O/U total. The Rams have the better straight up (SU) record (15-12 vs. 11-16), but the Minutemen have been superior against the spread (ATS) (12-12 vs. 11-12).
Pipkins has taken his game to another level over the last five games for Massachusetts, averaging 22.8 points, 3.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game.
This will be the first matchup of the year between these two teams, after the Rams won the lone contest last season, 81-64. The Rams dominated nearly every stat category in the game. They had a ridiculous offensive rebounding percentage of 37.5 and a turnover percentage of 12.9. For those same stats, the Minutemen had marks of 18.9 and 18.1, respectively.
VCU Rams at Massachusetts Minutemen Odds Prediction
Pick: SU Winner – Massachusetts, ATS Winner – Massachusetts, O/U – Over
Betting Notes:
- The Rams average 6.6 steals per game, which ranks 99th in the nation. The Minutemen rank 116th in steals allowed per game (6.2).
- Massachusetts is 7-5 ATS at home, while VCU is 4-7 ATS on the road.
- The total has gone over in 8 of the Minutemen’s 12 home games, while 8 of the Rams’ 11 road games have gone over.
- VCU ranks 78th in assists per game (15.1) while Massachusetts ranks 248th in assists allowed per game (16.0).
- The Rams rank 92nd in rebounds per game (36.7) while the Minutemen rank 235th (33.1).
- Massachusetts ranks 133rd in three pointers attempted per game (22.3) while VCU ranks 156th in three pointers allowed per game (22.1).
