The VCU Rams take on the BYU Cougars in the NCAA Tournament. Tip-off is set for 4:05 p.m. ET on TNT.
BYU is favored by 2 points on the spread with a moneyline of -125. The total is set at 147 points.
Here are my VCU vs. BYU predictions and college basketball picks for March 20, 2025.
VCU vs BYU Odds
| VCU Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2 -115 | 147 -110o / -110u | +105 |
| BYU Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2 -105 | 147 -110o / -110u | -125 |
- VCU vs BYU spread: BYU -2
- VCU vs BYU over/under: 147 points
- VCU vs BYU moneyline: BYU -125, VCU +105
- VCU vs BYU best bet: VCU +3
My VCU vs BYU best bet is on the Rams spread, with the best odds currently available at BetRivers. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
VCU vs BYU NCAA Tournament Betting Preview
By: Stuckey
I think this is a coin flip game.
VCU is a top 30 team. The Rams' physicality and pressure can really give this BYU offense issues, and they're likely to force a bunch of turnovers in this game and get some easy buckets.
BYU is going to pack it in. VCU might not have much success on the offensive glass — which is a big path to their offense — but the Rams have shooters.
If they're on at all, I think they win this game.
So, I like getting some points with the Rams, despite the ugly game that they played against George Mason in the Atlantic 10 Tournament title game on Sunday.
And I like the Rams despite this game being played in altitude in the Mile High City.
By: Tanner McGrath
I love Ryan Odom, and I love this press-happy scheme. VCU defense is elite, as it's literally the best half-court defense in the nation by points per possession allowed.
This is because the Rams stop everyone at the point of attack, and they play really extended and viciously deny catch-and-shoot opportunities because they have the best safety valve big man rim protector in the mid-majors in Luke Bamgboye.
VCU is the nation's best rim defense by points per shot allowed, which is incredible when you combine that with its extended pressure.
BYU has an elite half-court, NBA pro-style offense, but it's all built around penetration from its playmaking forwards and its shotmaking from the wings.
But BYU is a shaky ball-handling squad, and it's been flustered by pressure before.
On the other end of the court, VCU wants to get downhill in transition and then kick the ball out to shooters.
BYU is a good transition-denial defense, and its pack line scheme is good at closing off the rim. But the Cougars are a little bit weak in transition from an efficiency perspective and the pack line will allow a lot of jumpers.
Also, if BYU starts to turn it over, VCU will start driving early and then kicking often.
So, I really like the schematic matchup for the Rams, and I think three points is a ton in this game.
Pick: VCU +3
