BYU vs VCU Basketball Prediction, Odds, Picks, Best Bets for NCAA Tournament First Round

The No. 6 seed BYU Cougars (24-9) and the No. 11 seed VCU Rams (28-6) will meet in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday at 4:05 p.m. ET. The contest airs on TNT.

Before you place your bet on this game at FanDuel Sportsbook, here are the NCAA basketball odds and spreads you need to know.

BYU vs. VCU Game Info and Odds

• Game day: Thursday, March 20, 2025
• Game time: 4:05 p.m. ET
• TV channel: TNT
• Location: Denver, Colorado
• Arena: Ball Arena

BYU vs. VCU Picks and Prediction

All college basketball win probability predictions and picks are according to numberFire.
Prediction: VCU win (60.7%)

Before placing a bet on Thursday's BYU-VCU spread (BYU -2.5) or over/under (147.5 points), read the betting trends and insights below.

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BYU vs. VCU: ATS Betting Stats and Trends

• BYU has put together a 19-13-0 record against the spread this season.
• VCU has covered 20 times in 33 matchups with a spread this season.
• BYU covers the spread when it is a 2.5-point favorite or more 63.6% of the time. That's more often than VCU covers as an underdog of 2.5 or more (never covered this season).
• The Cougars have covered the spread in a higher percentage of their home games than road games. They have covered 10 times in 16 opportunities when playing at home, and they've covered six times in 11 opportunities on the road.
• This season, the Rams are 11-4-0 at home against the spread (.733 winning percentage). Away, they are 5-5-0 ATS (.500).

BYU vs. VCU: Moneyline Betting Stats

• BYU has been victorious in 16, or 72.7%, of the 22 contests it has been chosen as moneyline favorites in this season.
• This season, the Cougars have come away with a win 16 times in 21 chances when named as a favorite of at least -125 or better on the moneyline.
• VCU has been the moneyline underdog just two other times so far this season, and it lost both games.
• The Rams have played as a moneyline underdog of +104 or longer in only one game this season, which they lost.
• BYU has an implied victory probability of 55.6% according to the moneyline set for this matchup.

BYU vs. VCU Head-to-Head Comparison

• BYU's +333 scoring differential (outscoring opponents by 10.1 points per game) is a result of scoring 81 points per game (29th in college basketball) while allowing 70.9 per contest (145th in college basketball).
• Richie Saunders' 16 points per game lead BYU and are 189th in college basketball.
• VCU outscores opponents by 14.7 points per game (posting 77.1 points per game, 93rd in college basketball, and giving up 62.4 per outing, eighth in college basketball) and has a +501 scoring differential.
• Max Shulga leads VCU, putting up 15.1 points per game (252nd in college basketball).
• The Cougars rank 92nd in college basketball at 33.4 rebounds per game. That's 5.9 more than the 27.5 their opponents average.
• Keba Keita's 7.9 rebounds per game lead the Cougars and rank 67th in college basketball play.
• The Rams prevail in the rebound battle by an average of 6.3 boards. They are pulling down 35.5 rebounds per game (25th in college basketball) compared to their opponents' 29.2.
• Jack Clark's 6.9 rebounds per game lead the Rams and rank 179th in college basketball.
• BYU averages 104.8 points per 100 possessions on offense (17th in college basketball), and gives up 91.7 points per 100 possessions (133rd in college basketball).
• The Rams average 100.3 points per 100 possessions on offense (76th in college basketball), and give up 81.1 points per 100 possessions (third in college basketball).

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