Published Feb 20, 11:57am ET by
Gabriel Kozlow - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Feb 20, 11:57am ET
Updated Feb 20, 11:57am ET
The Saint Louis Billikens will be looking to bounce back from just their second loss of the season when they host the VCU Rams at Chaifetz Arena this Friday night. This is a battle in the A-10 Conference between the top two teams in the standings.
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| SAINT LOUIS BILLIKENS | -340 |
| VCU RAMS | +270 |
Rams Need Top Defense and Threes to WinThe VCU Rams are paying a visit to Saint Louis as +7.5 underdogs, but this matchup has major implications for their March Madness odds. They are currently 21–6 and hold 2nd place in the Atlantic 10 Conference. They’ll be looking to take advantage of the Billikens’ loss in their last game and potentially extend a bad streak for the home team.
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VCU has what it takes to succeed in this game, however, they’ll need to keep Saint Louis’ offense at bay with top-notch defense. For that, they’ll rely on Lazar Djokovic, their best rebounder and rim protector. Also, with Brandon Jennings, known as their top perimeter defender.
The Billikens are having a historic season under the helm of Josh Schertz, their second-year head coach. They are currently 24–2 and leading their conference heading into the final stretch of the season. They’ll also be looking to avenge their last loss against Rhode Island.
They average the 6th-highest points per game in the nation at 90.2 PPG, despite their leading scorer, Robbie Avila, averaging only 12.7 PPG. This shows just how efficient and balanced the whole team is and how everyone contributes on offense. Their defense is also top tier, holding opponents to just 67.8 PPG.
Saint Louis comes into this game with a strong chance of winning, listed at -7.5 on the spread. The over/under is 165.5, and the moneyline is -340 for Saint Louis and +270 for VCU.
The Billikens have been on a roll and, despite losing their last game, they should get back to their winning ways here. Our pick is the Saint Louis Billikens on the Moneyline at -340.
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Pick
Saint Louis Billikens (-340)
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