VCU vs. Duquesne - 3/3/20 College Basketball Pick, Odds, and Prediction

Duquesne is 2-0 against the spread in their last two road games and won their last game 81-78 as 9 ½-point favorites at home over George Washington. Duquesne is ranked 98th by KenPom, with the 89th ranked offense and 109th ranked defense in the country. They are led by Junior forward Marcus Weathers, who averages 14.4 points per game and 7.9 rebounds per game, and Sophomore guard (and first-ballot sports name hall-of-fame inductee) Sincere Carry, who averages 12.6 points per game and 5.2 assists per game.

VCU is 4-6 straight up and against the spread in its last 10 games. VCU has been very tough to beat at home this year, going 14-3 straight up, but they have gone only 7-10 against the spread. At home this season VCU is averaging 73.7 points per game and surrendering 60.2 points per game to opponents, good for a margin of +13.5 points per game. The trouble is that VCU gets such big numbers at home that they have trouble covering them.

VCU had lost 5 straight games straight up and against the spread before finally getting a win against George Washington at home Saturday 75-51 as 12-point favorites. VCU is ranked 64th by KenPom, with the 148th ranked offense and 33rd ranked defense in the nation. They are led by Junior forward Marcus Santos-Silva, who averages 12.4 points per game and 9.1 rebounds per game, and Senior guard De’Riante Jenkins, who scores 10.7 points per game to go along with 4.2 rebounds and 2 assists. No player on VCU averages more than 3 assists. 

VCU is 7-0 in the previous 7 games between these two teams, but just 4-3 against the spread in that stretch. The over is 5-4-1 in the last 10 games for VCU and 7-3 in the last 10 for Duquesne. The over is 4-3 in their previous 7 games against one another.

Duquesne has never beaten VCU and I don’t expect that to change in Richmond on Tuesday night. But I don't think VCU blows out Duquesne in this game, either. I'll take Duquesne and the points on the road.