Virginia Commonwealth vs Alabama 2011 College Basketball Picks: The last time we saw Virginia Commonwealth on the hardwood, it was last April while participating in the 2011 NCAA Tournament's Final Four. The Rams return to the spotlight in a nationally televised men’s college basketball game tonight when they travel to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to take on the 13th ranked University of Alabama Crimson Tide at venerable Coleman Coliseum. ESPNU will televise the game with a 9:30 p.m. ET tip-off.
Odds makers at sports book BetOnline.com list the Crimson Tide as 16-point College Basketball Odds favorites with a combined score total (over/under) of 123. Rams' backers are getting +1100 (11/1) odds on a SU winning wager while the price of betting Alabama SU is -1600. A winning payout on VCU at +1100 would be $1,100 on a $100 bet while wagering Alabama to win SU at -1600 would yield $100 winnings on a $1600 bet.
The Crimson Tide is 6-0 this season and 3-0 at home where it has won 23 straight home games dating back to 2010. VCU, which UA head coach Anthony Grant coached for three seasons before coming to Tuscaloosa, is 3-2 on the young season after advancing to the Final Four last season.
The key to winning this game will be if the Tide can slow down the Rams on the transition. The Rams are very explosive and a capable three-point shooting team that will put a variety of guys on the floor at one time that can shoot the three. Third year Alabama head coach Anthony Grant has built the Tide team with its focus on defense. Alabama's defense has retained its status as one of the top in the nation by allowing just 50.7 points per game this season, the seventh best average in the nation. The Tide take pride in keeping its opposition below 60 points. So far this season opponents have converted on just 30.7 percent of field goal attempts, the fifth lowest average in the nation.
The Rams are coached by third-year coach Shaka Smart who replaced Alabama's current coach Anthony Grant. Burgess Bradford leads VCU with 11.2 points per game with 60 percent of his field goals coming from behind the arc. In the Rams’ last game against Western Kentucky, he scored 16 points on 4-of-9 shooting from three-point range. He is one of two returning starters from last year’s Final Four team.
This VCU team is very dangerous and not getting the respect it deserves from odds makers. Admittedly, Coleman Coliseum is a hostile venue but the Rams are a seasoned bunch accustomed to playing in front of rowdy crowds. I think laying -16 is risky wagering. The Rams are my pick here getting the points. My Pick – VCU Rams +16.
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