The top-seeded VCU Rams will look to extend their winning streak to seven games when they take on the eighth-seeded Davidson Wildcats in a quarterfinal matchup on Thursday in the 2023 Atlantic 10 Tournament in Brooklyn, N.Y. The Rams (24-7, 15-3 Atlantic 10), who won the league title by three games over Dayton, Fordham and Saint Louis, are looking to win their first league tournament title since 2015. The Wildcats (16-15, 8-10), who have won five of their last six games, finished second in last year's tournament. Davidson last won the Atlantic 10 Tournament crown in 2018.
The game from the Barclays Center will tip off at 11:30 a.m. ET. Davidson is averaging 70.4 points per game, while VCU averages 71. The Rams are 7-point favorites in the latest Davidson vs. VCU odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is set at 135. Before locking in any VCU vs. Davidson picks, you need to see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's advanced computer simulation model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. The model enters conference tournament week 76-51 on all-top rated college basketball picks this season, returning nearly $1,200 for $100 players. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now the model has zeroed in Davidson vs. VCU and just locked in its picks and CBB predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Now, here are several college basketball odds and betting lines for VCU vs. Davidson:
- Davidson vs. VCU spread: VCU -7
- Davidson vs. VCU over/under: 135 points
- Davidson vs. VCU money line: Davidson +240, VCU -305
- DAV: The Wildcats are 4-0 against the spread in their last four neutral site games
- VCU: The Rams are 4-1 in their last five game overall
- Davidson vs. VCU picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why VCU can cover
Sophomore Jalen Deloach has been on a roll of late, reaching double-figure scoring in each of the last five games, including a 19-point and seven-rebound performance in an 88-63 win over St. Joseph's on Feb. 21. He has recorded four double-doubles on the year, including a 13-point and 11-rebound performance in a 73-65 win at Saint Louis on Feb. 3. In 30 games, including 28 starts, he is averaging 10 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 1.1 steals per game. In two games against Davidson, he is averaging eight points and six rebounds in 21.5 minutes of action.
Also helping power the Rams is sophomore forward Jamir Watkins. In 31 games, including 17 starts, he is averaging 9.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game. He has reached double-figure scoring in 16 games, including a season-high 22 points in a 90-63 win over Northern Illinois on Dec. 17. Watkins has also recorded two double-doubles, the last coming in a 74-62 win at Richmond on Jan. 20. In that game, he scored 15 points, while grabbing 10 rebounds.
Why Davidson can cover
Senior guard Foster Loyer has been dominant of late. He is coming off a 14-point, eight-rebound and six-assist effort in Wednesday's win over St. Bonaventure. He scored 33 points at Rhode Island in a 68-54 win on Saturday, and has reached double-digit scoring in each of the last six games. He has scored 30 or more points four times, including a season-high 38 points at Wright State on Nov. 9. For the year, he is averaging 16.5 points, 4.5 assists and 4.4 rebounds, while connecting on 91.8% of his free throws.
Junior forward Sam Mennenga was a big factor in the Wildcats' first-round win over St. Bonaventure. He scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds on Wednesday. For the season, Mennenga averages 15.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. He has reached double-figure scoring in 27 games and recorded six double-doubles.
How to make Davidson vs. VCU picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 138 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits well over 60% of the time. You can only see the model's picks at SportsLine.
So who wins VCU vs. Davidson? And which side of the spread hits well over 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its college basketball picks, and find out.
