The opening round of the NIT Bracket features a matchup between two teams that have seen recent Final Fours in the NCAA Tournament. The VCU Rams will travel to Philadelphia on Wednesday night to take on the Villanova Wildcats.
The Rams lost three consecutive games to end the regular season before winning three straight Atlantic 10 tournament games to reach the final before losing.
The Wildcats lost two straight and three of their last five regular-season games before going 1-1 in the Big East tournament with an OT loss to Marquette. Will they protect their home court and cover in the March Madness odds this week?
Here are our college basketball picks for VCU vs. Villanova at William B. Finneran Pavilion in Philadelphia, PA on Wednesday, March 19. Be sure to check out our March Madness picks page for more.
VCU vs Villanova best odds
VCU vs Villanova picks and predictions
These two teams had two common opponents this season in Memphis and St. Joseph’s, but the Villanova Wildcats played both teams early in the season so there's not much to be gained by looking back.
The VCU Rams lost to Memphis at home while Villanova beat it on a neutral court. However, VCU beat St. Joseph’s twice this season, while the Wildcats lost to the Hawks at home.
Both teams typically rely heavily on their defense to win games. The Rams allow 66.7 points per game, which ranks 44th nationally while the Wildcats allow 65.5 (20th). VCU ranks 43rd in KenPom’s defensive efficiency and Villanova ranks 14th. Even so, neither team is big on forcing turnovers.
The Rams rank 240th in turnovers forced at 11.1 per game and the Wildcats rank 290th with 10.6. Both teams like to play at a slow pace, which contributes heavily to the low-scoring nature of their games. VCU ranks 302nd in KenPom’s pace of play and 309th in possessions per game (67.9). Meanwhile, Villanova ranks 350th in pace of play and 328th in possessions (67.3).
For offense, VCU relies heavily on getting their points from beyond the arc (35.5%) and the free throw line (21.1%). Villanova relies on getting their points from three (39.8%) but they don't often send their opponents to the charity stripe (18th). They allow a lot of 3-point attempts per game, but not many makes.
On the other end, the Rams only allow their opponents to shoot 31.4% from downtown, which ranks 49th nationally. They also rank 55th in blocks per game at 4.4. So, it'll be very tough for the Wildcats to get points on the board without shooting and making very tough shots.
With neither team playing to their strength on offense and neither team turning the ball over for easy buckets, it's hard to imagine this game having many points or much pace. The total is low but that shouldn't keep us from playing it.
My best bet: Under 131.5 (-115 at BetMGM)
VCU vs Villanova same-game parlay
Under 131
Eric Dixon Under 6.5 rebounds
Justin Moore Under 10.5 points
Both teams are terrible on the offensive glass and excellent on the defensive glass. Eric Dixon averages 6.3 rebounds per game but 2.1 of those come on the offensive end. Dixon had fewer than seven rebounds in 10 of his final 14 games.
Justin Moore has relied heavily on 3-point makes to rack up most of his points this season. While he's reached double-digits in six of his last nine games, he made 18 threes in those six games. When he's made less than two threes in a game, he's stayed Under this number in eight straight games.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Best college basketball bonuses
All Users
64% boost for one CBB bet
e.g. -110 BOOSTS to +149! Claim Now
All Users
Instant payout for CBB moneylines
If your team goes up by 15! Claim Now
Eligible USA locations only. Also, see our full list of best sportsbook promotions for 2024.
21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
VCU vs Villanova spread and Over/Under analysis
The Rams went 18-12-1 against the spread in the regular season and a fantastic 7-2 ATS on the road. The Wildcats went 17-14 ATS in the regular season and 9-7 at home.
VCU has only been an underdog by more than four points three times this season, covering all three times despite losing two of those straight up.
The Under was 16-15 in VCU's regular season games and 6-3 in its road games. The Under was a perfect 4-0 in its four Atlantic 10 tournament games. The Under was 20-11 in Villanova's regular season games and 10-6 in their home games. It was a perfect 2-0 in their two Big East tournament games.
VCU vs Villanova betting trend to know
VCU has stayed Under the total in 11 of its last 16 games and Villanova has stayed Under in 19 of their last 25 games. Find more college basketball betting trends for VCU vs. Villanova.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Covers may receive advertising commissions for visits to a sportsbook or betting site.
Play at Pinnacle: Offering 25 + years of betting experience
Make your March Madness wagers at Pinnacle, which offers Canadians unbeatable value with the most competitive odds in the industry and high limits — come find out why Pinnacle is home to better odds and better payouts!
VCU vs Villanova game info
| Location: | The William B. Finneran Pavilion, Villanova, PA |
| Date: | Wednesday, March 20, 2024 |
| Tip-off: | 9:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | ESPN2 |
VCU vs Villanova key injuries
Stay updated with the latest picks, odds, and news! Tap the 
to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.
