BYU vs VCU March Madness First-Round Preview: Cougars Favored in 6-11 Matchup
The March Madness first-round matchup between #11 VCU Rams (28-6) and #6 BYU Cougars (24-9) tips off at 4:05pm ET at Ball Arena in Denver. BYU enters as 3.5-point favorites, looking to break their decade-long first-round drought.
Basketball players leap for ball
Key Players:
- VCU: Max Shulga and Joe Bamisile (15.1 PPG each)
- BYU: Richie Saunders (16.0 PPG) and Egor Demin (10.3 PPG, 5.4 APG)
Why VCU Can Win:
- 8th best defense nationally (62.4 PPG allowed)
- Won 12 of last 13 games
- Strong tournament momentum after A-10 championship
- Proven ability to contain elite scorers
Why BYU Might Struggle:
- Coming off worst offensive performance (54 points vs Houston)
- Lost to A-10 champion (Duquesne) in 2024 tournament
- Demin limited to 9 points in last two games
Betting Analysis:
- BYU: 17-6 as favorites
- VCU: 0-2 as underdogs
- Public backing: 73% on BYU moneyline (-162)
- Over/Under: 145.5 points (69% betting over)
The Pick: VCU +3.5 (-112) VCU's elite defense should contain BYU's key scorers Demin and Saunders, while their momentum and tournament experience will keep this game close. The Rams' defensive prowess makes them a strong value play to cover the spread.
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