The VCU Rams are playing the Saint Mary’s Gaels in NCAA Tournament play on Thursday night. The game is scheduled for a 7:20 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on TBS. The college basketball odds for the game have the Gaels favored to pick up the close win here.

College Basketball Odds
Saint Mary’s -4
Total: 126.5 points

Saint Mary’s might be a better team than anybody is giving them credit for. The Gaels lost to only two teams this season — three defeats to Gonzaga and once to UT-Arlington early in the season. Playing a squad like VCU is a bit different for Saint Mary’s, a team that ranks near the bottom of the country in tempo. VCU isn’t a super quick team that loves to run every possession, but it could (and should) want to play faster than Saint Mary’s.

The Gaels will rely heavily on their defense here. Saint Mary’s allows only 56.5 points per game this season, that ranks second-best in the country behind only Virginia. Saint Mary’s wants to make VCU work extensively on offense and struggle to take quality shots. 

VCU will look for Justin Tillman to have a big game on the glass and in the scoring column. The Rams have quite a few guys that can find the bucket, including JeQuan Lewis (14.7) and three other players that average at least eight points per game as well.

But the defense of Saint Mary’s, which will cause VCU to work on both ends of the floor, will be the difference here.

Free Pick: Saint Mary’s

 Virginia Tech Vs. Wisconsin (Betting NCAA Basketball)

Professionals see a mismatches within the player matchups for this game. handicapped by Pro Bettor Dave Essler - with RJ Bell from the Pregame.com Studios in Las Vegas. Get his NCAA College Basketball Free Pick: Virginia Tech Vs. Wisconsin

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