VCU vs Pittsburgh 11/17/22 College Basketball Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Pittsburgh Panthers and VCU Rams meet Thursday in college basketball action at the Barclays Center. The Pittsburgh Panthers look to get back to a .500 record. The VCU Rams look to get off to a 3-1 start.

The Pittsburgh Panthers are averaging 65.3 points on 39.8 percent shooting and allowing 76.7 points on 47.5 percent shooting. Blake Hinson is averaging 16 points and 0.5 assists, while Jamarius Burton is averaging 13 points and 6 rebounds. Greg Elliott is the third double-digit scorer and Federiko Federiko is grabbing 6.5 rebounds. The Pittsburgh Panthers are shooting 26.2 percent from beyond the arc and 68.9 percent from the free throw line. The Pittsburgh Panthers are allowing 33.3 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 34.3 rebounds per game.

The VCU Rams are averaging 67 points on 42.5 percent shooting and allowing 57.7 points on 38.9 percent shooting. Brandon Johns Jr. is averaging 14 points and 4.5 rebounds, while Adrian Baldwin Jr. is averaging 12 points and 7 assists. Jamir Watkins is the third double-digit scorer and David Shriver is grabbing 5 rebounds. The VCU Rams are shooting 31.8 percent from beyond the arc and 65.8 percent from the free throw line. The VCU Rams are allowing 28.3 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 31 rebounds per game.

The Pittsburgh Panthers have been terrible offensively through 3 games, and playing on the end of a back to back probably doesn’t help them here. VCU also isn’t the sort of team you want to play when on the end of a back to back, as their pressure defense tires you out. Pitt has a lot to prove after pooping the bed twice against decent competition. I’ll side with VCU and whatever the line is.