VCU vs Rhode Island 2/8/22 College Basketball Picks, Predictions, Odds
Rhode Island Rams (12-9) vs. VCU Rams (14-7)
February 8, 2022 7:00 pm EDT
The Line: VCU Rams -5 / Rhode Island Rams +5; Over/Under: -122.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Rhode Island Rams and the VCU Rams meet in college basketball action from the Stuart Siegel Center on Tuesday night.
The Rhode Island Rams will try to snap a five-game losing streak after a 78-67 loss to UMass last time out. Makhel Mitchell leads the Rams in scoring with 11.1 PPG along with 5.2 RPG while Jeremy Sheppard has 10 PPG with a team-high 2.9 APG to lead URI in assists and to make up the pair of double-digit scorers for URI so far this season. Makhi Mitchell also has 9.4 PPG with a team-high 7 RPG to lead the Rams on the glass as well this season. As a team, Rhode Island is averaging 68.1 PPG on 46.9% shooting from the field, 34.2% from three and 65% from the foul line while allowing 63 PPG on 37.6% shooting from the field and 31% from three this season.
The VCU Rams will look to build on their 71-62 win over Duquesne last time out. Vince Williams Jr. leads VCU in scoring, rebounding and assists with 12.9 PPG, 6.2 RPG and 3.4 APG while Adrian Baldwin Jr. has 10.9 PPG with 5.2 APG as the only other double-digit scorer for VCU up to this point in the season. Jayden Nunn has 8.4 PPG and KeShawn Curry also has 9 PPG. As a team, VCU is averaging 63.3 PPG on 44.3% shooting from the field, 34% from three and 66.3% from the foul line while allowing 60.1 PPG on 38.6% shooting from the field and 26.7% from three this season.
Rhode Island is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games overall and 1-6 ATS in their last 7 Tuesday games while the under is 5-1 in their last 6 games following a loss. VCU is 12-5 ATS in their last 17 games overall and 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games following a win while the under is 18-7-1 in their last 26 games following an ATS loss.
I get the case to be made either way here, but the truth is that you have two of the worst offensive units in terms of scoring in the country against a pair of top-40 defenses. That said, this is the lowest the total has been in recent memory and I think the total is a bit of an overreaction to the offensive issues both have had this season going against some solid defenses. I think this is a game where both teams get into the 60s and ultimately push us over this number.
