VCU (9-2) vs. New Mexico (8-3)
December 18, 2024 9:00 pm EDT
The Line: New Mexico -1; Over/Under: -
(Get latest betting odds)
The VCU Rams and the New Mexico Lobos meet Wednesday in college basketball action from the Pit. Here’s a New Mexico vs VCU prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best New Mexico vs VCU pick.
VCU Rams Betting Preview
The Rams’ year kicked off on a 4-0 run before a pair of losses to Seton Hall and Nevada. It’s been five straight wins for VCU since then, over Miami, Elizabeth City State, Georgia Southern, Pennsylvania and Colorado State in succession.
On Saturday versus Colorado State, VCU held a one-point lead by halftime. After a 43-36 run in the second, VCU powered out the win 76-68. Tops in scoring was Joe Bamisile with 25 points, and Max Shulga had 20 points with 10 boards.
New Mexico Lobos Betting Preview
Over on the New Mexico side, they beat Nicholls, UCLA, Texas A&M-CC, Grambling and Texas Southern in their first six games. The Lobos are 3-2 since then with wins over USC, San Jose State and Western New Mexico.
In the Western New Mexico game last weekend, the Lobos didn’t have much trouble. New Mexico bombed in 60 points in the first half and 62 more in the second for a 122-70 blowout victory. Leading team scorer Jovan Milicevic posted 21 bench points with six rebounds.
Why the New Mexico Lobos will win
- New Mexico has won 10 of its last 11 night games against non-Conference opponents at The Pit.
Why the VCU Rams will win
- VCU has won seven of its last eight night games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
New Mexico vs VCU Prediction
I’ll stay with New Mexico. The Lobos are fresh off an easy win over Western New Mexico, hitting a blistering 60.3 percent from the field with 41 rebounds. New Mexico has been rolling on the scoreboards lately. They’ve posted 80 or more points in seven straight games. Trouble is, the Lobos are also giving up some pretty hefty totals to solid offenses.
As for VCU, they shot 43.9 percent from the field with 32 rebounds in their win over Colorado State, but managed just 15-of-25 (60 percent) from the line. The Rams have scored 76 or more points in four of their last five games (all wins), so they’re posting some big totals as well these days. I like this one to be a hefty total and a competitive matchup, with New Mexico eking out a home cover/win.
