Merrimack College Warriors vs VCU Rams Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Merrimack College vs VCU NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Richmond.

Merrimack College vs VCU Prediction

The Warriors and Rams are set to face off at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The Rams will host the game at Stuart C. Siegel Center in Richmond, VA. The over/under for this game is set at 132.5 points, and VCU is favored by -16 against Merrimack College in a non-conference matchup.

Merrimack College vs. VCU Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Merrimack College Warriors at VCU Rams
Where: Richmond at Stuart C. Siegel Center
Date: Wednesday, November 13th
Betting Odds VCU -16, MERRI +1041 | VCU -2333 O/U 132.5

Warriors Preview: Can Merrimack College Pull Off a Road Win?

Merrimack College picked up a 65-51 win over Vermont on Saturday, November 9th. The Warriors, who were +7.5 underdogs, not only pulled off the upset but also covered the spread. The total points for the game were 116, falling short of the 126 O/U line.

Merrimack led 28-22 at halftime and outscored Vermont 37-29 in the second half to seal the win. Solid defense and efficient scoring after the break were key to their victory.

Warriors Offense Breakdown

Merrimack's offense put up 65 points in their last game, shooting 39.3% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 45.9%. They connected on 44.4% of their threes, hitting 8 of 18 attempts, while going 16 for 43 (37.2%) on two-point shots. At the free-throw line, they were nearly perfect, making 9 of 10 attempts.

TJ Long led the way with 22 points, knocking down 6 threes on 15 attempts. Adam Clark added 19 points, though he shot just 29.2% from the field, contributing 6 assists. Merrimack finished with 8 assists as a team and grabbed 12 offensive rebounds.

Warriors Team Defense

Merrimack's defense was strong, holding their opponent to just 51 points on 39% shooting. They limited two-point attempts to 37% (16/43), but the other team found success from beyond the arc, hitting 44% of their threes (8/18).

At the free-throw line, the opposing team shot 90%, making 9 of 10 attempts. Merrimack gave up 12 offensive rebounds in the game.

Rams Preview: Does VCU Stand a Chance at Home?

VCU Rams Recent Game/Games

VCU opened their season with an 80-55 win over Boston College on Friday, November 8th. Playing at home, the Rams were -11 favorites and covered the spread with ease. The total points for the game were 135, just under the O/U line of 140.5.

VCU led 33-20 at halftime and put up 47 points in the 2nd half while allowing 35. Their strong 2nd half performance helped them secure the win and cover the spread.

Rams Offense Breakdown

VCU put up 80 points in their last game, shooting 43.3% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 50%. They connected on 54.5% of their two-point attempts, but struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 29.6% of their threes (8/27). At the free-throw line, the Rams shot 69%, making 20 of 29 attempts.

Phillip Russell led the way with 20 points in 26 minutes, shooting 55.6% overall and 40% from three. Joe Bamisile added 18 points and 9 rebounds, while Donald Hand Jr. contributed 17 points and 8 boards. Roger McFarlane also chipped in with 11 points and a team-high 11 rebounds.

Rams Team Defense

VCU's defense held their opponent to 55 points, despite giving up 54% shooting from inside the arc, where they went 18/33. From three-point range, VCU limited them to 8/27 shooting, just 29%.

At the free-throw line, VCU sent their opponent to the stripe 29 times, where they converted 20 for 69%. VCU also allowed 14 offensive rebounds in the game.

Warriors vs Rams Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

Across their five previous road games, Merrimack College has an ATS mark of 1-4. Their straight up record in these matchups was 4-1 while averaging 75 points per game.
Through their last ten home games, VCU has an ATS record of just 8-2. However, their overall record was 6-4 while averaging 72 points per game.
In their last three games as the betting underdog, the Warriors have a straight up record of 1-2 and an ATS mark of 3-0.
VCU has done well both straight up and vs the spread when favored to win the game, going 4-1 SU and 4-1 ATS in their last five games.