The new era of VCU basketball got off to a winning start on Monday with a blowout of Wagner. A much tougher test awaits tonight for VCU, as they have a Texas Showcase matchup vs. Utah State in Frisco, Texas.
Tip time for the contest at Comerica Center is 8:00 p.m. ET, and if you want to tune in during or after Kansas vs. UNC or making your college football picks for tonight, you can watch Urban Edge Network’s free live stream.
Both the Rams and Aggies opened the new college basketball season with resounding victories. VCU torched Wagner 103-74 on Monday, while Utah State walloped Westminster University, a Division II school, 110-54.
A much more competitive contest is likely ahead tonight, as both teams aspire to reach the NCAA Tournament this season, just as they both did last season.
Because both teams are hoping to be a part of the field of 68, tonight’s matchup could prove to be pivotal, as wins over tournament teams or potential tournament teams are worth their weight in gold come selection time.
Who will add a win in this matchup to their resume? Read on for our VCU vs. Utah State prediction and picks, which are accompanied by the best odds from top online sportsbooks such as BetOnline.
VCU vs. Utah State Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Over/Under |
|---|---|---|---|
| VCU | +3 (-105) | +138 | Over 163.5 (-108) |
| Utah State | -3 (-115) | -158 | Under 162.5 (-112) |
VCU vs. Utah State Prediction and Picks
Prediction: Utah State to win
As is the norm in this era of college basketball, both teams had significant turnover in the offseason.
So, there is only so much projecting and analysis you can do about either team at this point.
Utah State will have arguably the best player on the court in junior guard Mason Falslev. Last season, Falslev averaged 15.0 points per game, 6.3 rebounds per game, and 3.7 assists per game while shooting 39.0% from three and 49.7% from the field overall.
The only thing Falslev doesn’t do well is shoot free throws, as he has made only 60.8% of his foul shots in two-plus seasons as an Aggie.
Speaking of guards, VCU will be hoping to have the services of LSU transfer Tyrell Ward vs. Utah State. Ward, who sat out last season before departing Baton Rouge, missed the opener against Wagner due to a sprained ankle and is a game-time decision for tonight, according to reports on social media.
If Ward (9.1 PPG at LSU in the 2023-24 season) can go tonight, the scales tip closer to favoring VCU.
However, with Ward’s status up in the air, my lean is with Utah State, who also gets the slight nod in KenPom’s score projections for today’s games. That said, I do not recommend making any substantial moneyline or spread bets on that outcome (or the other side, either).
VCU vs. Utah State Picks
VCU/Utah State Over 163.5 (-108 at BetOnline)
This may perhaps be too high of a total for some to touch when it is the second game of the season for two teams that feature a lot of new faces.
Giving it a pass would be understandable, but I like the odds of a high-scoring clash at Comerica Center.
The Aggies ranked 62nd in average offensive possession length in Jerrod Calhoun’s first season, and as a program, Utah State finished inside the top 60 nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency in six of the past seven seasons.
Those results came under four different head coaches, one of which was Ryan Odom, who made the move back east to VCU before taking the reins at Virginia in March.
Now in the hot seat at VCU is Phil Martelli Jr., whose two Bryant teams ranked third and sixth in tempo and 11th and 25th in average offensive possession length, as well as 21st and 29th in average defensive possession length.
There might be a bit more balance employed with the step up from Bryant to VCU, but we will see a bit of a different style from the Rams this season than we are accustomed to. That should see the over hit tonight, even if Ward does not play.
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