The Boston College Eagles face the VCU Rams in Annapolis, MD. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network from Alumni Hall (Navy).
The Eagles defeated The Citadel 69-60 in their first game of the season, but they didn't cover the 16.5-point spread. Meanwhile, the Rams cruised past Bellarmine 84-65 behind Max Shulga's 19 points.
The Rams are favored by 9.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -440. The total is also set at 143 points. Here’s my Boston College vs VCU predictions and college basketball picks for Friday.
Boston College vs VCU Prediction
My Pick: VCU -8.5
MyBoston College vs VCU best bet is on the Rams to cover the spread, with the best odds currently available at BetMGM. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Boston College vs VCU Odds
| Boston Col Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+9.5 -112 | 143 -110o / -110u | +340 |
| VCU Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-9.5 -108 | 143 -110o / -110u | -440 |
- Boston College vs VCU spread: VCU: -9.5
- Boston College vs VCU over/under: 143 points
- Boston College vs VCU moneyline: VCU -440, Boston College +340
- Boston College vs VCU best bet: VCU -8.5
Spread
I'm picking the Rams to cover the spread.
Moneyline
PASS
Over/Under
PASS
My Pick: VCU -8.5 (Play to -9.5)
Boston College vs VCU College Basketball Betting Preview
Do we really trust Earl Grant and Boston College to cover any spread right now?
The Eagles are still adjusting to the loss of their best player from last season — Quinten Post — and the departure of their top five scorers.
They struggled mightily against The Citadel, only beating the projected ninth-place team in the SoCon, according to the preseason coaches poll, by nine points. In fact, the Bulldogs shot 12.5% from 3 and still were competitive on the road.
Meanwhile, the Rams have an elite backcourt; Shulga, Phillip Russell and Joe Bamisile combined for 53 of their 84 points against Bellarmine. They are experienced and already seem to have great cohesion and flow as a trio.
The difference in this handicap will come in the frontcourt, though. Who will win the Jack Clark vs. Chad Venning matchup?
At 6-foot-10, Clark is a stretch big who can knock down 3s, opening up the floor for his teammates with spacing. Meanwhile, Venning has five total 3-point attempts in his career and has never made a shot from beyond the arc. He could out-physical Clark in the post, though.
At this point, I trust VCU's backcourt more than I do Donald Hand Jr. and Co. on the BC side. I also think Clark pulls Venning away from the basket, giving Shulga, Russell and Bamisile more space to operate.
Also, the Rams don't have a lot of opportunities to prove themselves to the Selection Committee in the non-conference. While Boston College wouldn't be a major victory, it's still a power-conference team on a neutral court, and that could become a minor difference on a resume in March.
