Dayton vs VCU 1/5/22 College Basketball Picks, Predictions, Odds

The VCU Rams will travel to UD Arena to take on the Dayton Flyers this Wednesday night in College Basketball action.

The VCU Rams won their 4^th straight game and improved to 7-4 on the season after defeating the FAU Owls, 66-46, on December 15^th. VCU was outstanding defensively against FAU and had no trouble securing the victory after taking a 49-34 lead with 9:53 left in regulation. VCU shot 55.8% from the field & 36.4% from beyond the arc while holding FAU to just 34.7% from the field & 21.7% from beyond the arc. Leading the way for the Rams was Jayden Nunn who had 9 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, & 4 steals.

On the season, VCU is averaging 60.5 ppg on 42.8% shooting from the field. The Rams are averaging 4.9 three-pointers per game on 29.3% shooting from beyond the arc. Offensively, VCU has been led by Vince Williams Jr. (10.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.5 spg, 1.2 bpg), Adrian Baldwin Jr. (10.0 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 4.7 apg, 3.3 spg), Jayden Nunn (10.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.5 apg, 2.1 spg), & KeShawn Curry (9.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.5 spg).

Defensively, VCU is holding their opponents to an average of 56.7 ppg on 36.4% shooting from the field. The Rams have a rebound margin of -4.9 and a turnover margin of 2.3.

The Dayton Flyers improved to 8-5 on the season after defeating the Southern Jaguars, 69-60, on December 21^st. Dayton led by a 32-21 margin at halftime and had no trouble securing the victory after taking a 61-41 lead with 6:06 left in regulation. Dayton shot 51.1% from the field & 29.4% from beyond the arc while holding Southern to just 37.3% from the field & 40.0% from beyond the arc. Leading the way for the Flyers was Toumani Camara who had a double-double with 13 points, 12 rebounds, & 1 block.

On the season, Dayton is averaging 70.4 ppg on 48.0% shooting from the field. The Flyers are averaging 6.2 three-pointers per game on 32.0% shooting from beyond the arc. Offensively, Dayton has been led by Toumani Camara (10.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.7 apg), Daron Holmes II (10.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.2 apg, 2.3 bpg), Malachi Smith (10.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 4.7 apg, 2.0 spg), & Elijah Weaver (9.6 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 1.9 apg).

Defensively, Dayton is holding their opponents to an average of 64.4 ppg on 42.8% shooting from the field. The Flyers have a rebound margin of 7.1 and a turnover margin of -3.0.

The Rams are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games and 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games vs. Dayton. The Flyers are 6-3 ATS in their last 9 games, however, are just 2-4 ATS in their last 6 Wednesday games.

VCU is led by their defense which is one of the best in College Basketball as the Rams rank 7^th in scoring defense & 5^th in defensive FG%, however, VCU can struggle to put up points on the board as they come into this matchup ranked just 337^th in scoring offense, 247^th in FG%, & 309^th in 3P-FG%. Dayton is also led by their defense which ranks 86^th in scoring defense, 35^th in defensive FG%, & 38^th in rebound margin, however, like VCU, can struggle offensively as they come into this game ranked just 219^th in scoring offense & 211^th in scoring defense.

VCU is a solid team and one of the better defense teams in the country, however, going to Dayton is a huge challenge and I just don’t see the Rams having much success offensively in this one. Dayton has already picked huge wins at Kansas & Virginia Tech this season and as I think they come out strong in this one, I’m taking Dayton to cover this small home spread. Good Luck!