New Mexico Lobos vs VCU Rams Matchup

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

VCU vs New Mexico Prediction

Planning on watching today's Rams and Lobos game? Catch the action at The Pit in Albuquerque, NM, as the Lobos hosts this showdown at 9:00 ET on MWN. The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 152.5 points, and New Mexico is favored by -2.5 at home against VCU.

VCU vs. New Mexico Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: VCU Rams at New Mexico Lobos
Where: Albuquerque at The Pit
Date: Wednesday, December 18th
Betting Odds NMX -2.5, VCU +129 | NMX -157 O/U 152.5

Rams Preview: Is a Road Win Possible for VCU?

VCU improved to 8-2 on the season with a 76-68 home win over Colorado State on Saturday. The Rams were -6.5 point favorites going into the game and covered the spread with the victory.

After leading 33-32 at halftime, VCU scored 43 points in the 2nd half while allowing 36. The total points for the game ended at 144, going over the pre-game line of 136.5.

Rams Offense Breakdown

VCU put up 76 points in their last game, shooting 43.9% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 52.6%. They hit 36.7% from three, connecting on 11 of 30 attempts, and went 15 of 25 from the free-throw line, shooting 60%.

Joe Bamisile led the way with 25 points and 9 rebounds, hitting 4 threes at a 50% clip. Max Shulga added 20 points and 10 boards, shooting 60% from deep, while Nique Clifford also grabbed 10 rebounds, despite shooting just 27.3% from the floor.

Rams Team Defense

VCU's defense gave up 68 points in their last game, with opponents shooting 43% from the field, hitting 25 of 57 shots. Inside the arc, VCU allowed 51% shooting, with the other team making 14 of 27 two-point attempts.

From three-point range, VCU's opponents connected on 11 of 30 shots, good for 36%. They also sent the other team to the line 25 times, where they made 15 free throws, shooting 60%. VCU allowed 12 offensive rebounds.

Lobos Preview: Can New Mexico Grab a Win at Home?

New Mexico Lobos Recent Game/Games

New Mexico's season record dropped to 7-3 after an 89-83 home loss to New Mexico State on Saturday. The Lobos were -20.5 favorites going into the game but failed to cover the spread.

New Mexico trailed 47-38 at halftime but tightened up defensively in the second half, allowing just 26 points while scoring 35. The combined points of 172 went over the pre-game line of 152.5.

Lobos Offense Breakdown

New Mexico put up 83 points in their latest game, despite shooting just 35.7% from the field and 31.2% from beyond the arc. Their effective field goal percentage was 41.7%, and they struggled at the free-throw line, hitting only 59.1% of their attempts.

Offensive rebounding was a key factor, as they grabbed 23 boards on the offensive end. Christian Cook led the way with 27 points, shooting 6-for-9 from three-point range, while Robert Carpenter added 20 points, hitting 6 threes at a 50% clip.

Lobos Team Defense

Despite New Mexico's defensive struggles, they managed to hold their opponent to 89 points on 35% shooting from the field. The Lobos limited damage inside, allowing 38% shooting on two-point attempts.

From beyond the arc, New Mexico gave up 10 threes on 32 attempts, with their opponent shooting 31%. They also sent them to the free-throw line 22 times, where they converted 13 for 59%. The Lobos gave up 23 offensive rebounds.

Rams vs Lobos Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

Across their ten previous road games, VCU has an ATS mark of 7-3. Their straight up record in these matchups was 5-5 while averaging 72 points per game.
Through their last five home games, New Mexico has an ATS record of just 2-3. However, their overall record was 2-3 while averaging 70 points per game.
Through their last five games as the betting underdog, the Rams have a strong record vs the spread going 3-2. Their straight up mark in these contests is 2-3.
Through their last five matchups as the betting favorite, the Lobos have a good straight up record, but their ATS mark is just 2-3.