Rhode Island (18-3, 10-0) at Virginia Commonwealth (14-8, 6-3)
When: Friday, February 2nd 2018
Where: Stuart C. Siegel Center, Richmond, VA
Time: 7:00 ET | TV: ESPN2
Opening Odds: Rhode Island -5
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The Rhode Island Rams are still undefeated in Atlantic 10 play, but have been pushed to the brink in the last few games. The 21st-ranked Rams will look to stay perfect when they visit the improving Virginia Commonwealth Rams on Friday night on ESPN2. Rhode Island went down early and then had to hang on late in Tuesday’s victory against Massachusetts – just as we predicted – to win their 13th consecutive contest. After winning seven of its first 11 A-10 games by double digits, Rhode Island has now escaped in back-to-back games, this time by the Minutemen, who it beat by 22 points two weeks earlier. Sophomore Jeff Dowtin had the best game of his career with 19 points and 10 assists and is averaging seven assists in conference games for Rhode Island, who have won 18 straight league games and 10 in a row on the road. The 18-game league win streak is tied with George Washington for the fourth-longest in A-10 history behind Saint Joseph’s (21) and Temple (25, 27). Justin Tillman has averaged 18.2 points and 9.7 rebounds for a VCU team that has won three straight games, including back-to-back road wins over Saint Louis and George Mason. Rhode Island has taken the last two meetings with VCU, including a 70-63 victory in the A-10 tournament final last season, but are 0-5 all-time in Richmond and 4-6 overall in the series.
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Perimeter defense will be the key for Rhode Island if they hope to push their win streak to 14 straight, which would the longest in team history since 1939-40. Rhode Island limited seven of their first eight league opponents to less than 29% shooting from three-point territory, but allowed Duquesne and UMass to make a combined 13-of-25 from that distance. The Rams will need to focus on VCU’s De’Riante Jenkins, who his third in the A-10 in 3-point shooting at 43.7%. Rhode Island has had a 20-point scorer in each of the past nine games.
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Tillman has been VCU’s go-to guy since he arrived last fall, and has 18 double-doubles in his last 30 Atlantic 10 games, but Khris Lane recorded his first of the season during Saturday’s win over George Mason. Lane, who had six double-doubles last season while averaging 17.1 points and 7.3 rebounds at Longwood, had 25 points and 12 rebounds, both season highs, against George Mason. Lane has averaged 8.0 points and 3.7 rebounds in 15.6 minutes of action this season.
Rhode Island is good, but they’ve been tested lately and will be playing in a place they’ve never won. VCU is starting to play well and expect Jenkins to take advantage of Rhode Island’s leaky perimeter defense and ride them to an upset victory over Rhode Island.
Pick: VCU +4
Rhode Island
- Rams are 10-3 ATS in their last 13 vs. Atlantic 10.
- Rams are 9-3-1 ATS in their last 13 road games.
- Rams are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games overall.
- Rams are 21-8-1 ATS in their last 30 games following a straight up win.
- Rams are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS loss.
- Rams are 7-3-1 ATS in their last 11 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Rams are 7-3-1 ATS in their last 11 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Rams are 9-4-1 ATS in their last 14 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Rams are 11-5-1 ATS in their last 17 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Rams are 17-8-3 ATS in their last 28 Friday games.
VCU
- Rams are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Rams are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 home games.
- Rams are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Rams are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 Friday games.
- Rams are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
- Rams are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 vs. Atlantic 10.
- Rams are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Rhode Island
- Over is 4-0 in Rams last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Over is 4-0 in Rams last 4 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Over is 10-1 in Rams last 11 road games.
- Over is 6-2 in Rams last 8 overall.
- Over is 6-2 in Rams last 8 games following a straight up win.
- Over is 9-3 in Rams last 12 vs. Atlantic 10.
- Under is 5-2 in Rams last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
VCU
- Under is 5-1 in Rams last 6 home games.
- Over is 5-1 in Rams last 6 games following a ATS win.
- Over is 4-1 in Rams last 5 overall.
- Over is 4-1 in Rams last 5 games following a straight up win.
- Over is 4-1 in Rams last 5 vs. Atlantic 10.
- Over is 8-3 in Rams last 11 Friday games.
- Under is 9-4 in Rams last 13 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Favorite is 5-0 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
