Richmond vs Rhode Island Odds, Lines and Spread (Jan. 25)

• The Richmond vs Rhode Island odds favor the Rams by 2.5-points on Tuesday
• Richmond is 9-3 straight up, 6-6 ATS in its last 12
• Read below for analysis and a betting prediction

Rhode Island  (12-5, 3-2 Atlantic 10) is a 2.5-point home favorite over Richmond in an Atlantic 10 game at 6:30 pm ET Tuesday on the CBS Sports Network. The Rams lost to George Washington as a 15-point home favorite the last time out Saturday.

Richmond (12-7, 3-3 Atlantic 10) is going for a sweep of a three-game road trip that began with victories over Fordham and La Salle last week. The Spiders beat the Explorers 64-56 the last time out Saturday.

Richmond vs Rhode Island

Odds from FanDuel Sportsbook on Jan. 24.

Rhode Island is a 2.5-point favorite over Richmond with the total set at 135.5, which is the second-lowest for a Richmond game this season. Rhode Island’s -145 price on the moneyline means the Rams have a slight 59.2% implied win probability. The +120  moneyline translates into a 45.5% implied win probability for Richmond.

Rams’ Foul Foul Shooting

Rhode Island has hurt itself at the free throw line the last two A 10 games, a two-point victory at La Salle and a two-point home loss to George Washington. It has been a season-long deficiency.

The Rams made only 15 of 31 free throw attempts (48.4 percent)  and lost an early 15-point lead in a 63-61 loss to George Washington the last time out Saturday. They were an even-lees productive 9 of 22 from the line in 56-54 victory at La Salle last Wednesday.

The Mitchell twins have been the recent culprits — 6’10 Makhel, around whom the offense is built, has made 4 of his last 15 foul shots and is shooting 61.7 percent for the season and 6’9 Makhi was 2 of 12 against GW and has made 8 of his last 19. He is shooting 52.3 percent from the line..

Rhode Island is shooting 66.8 percent from the foul line, 303rd in Division I. Richmond is not much better at 70.1 percent.

Richmond vs Rhode Island Head-to-Head Results

Richmond is 2-0 straight up and ATS in the last two of the series that has been played once a year since 2012 in the crowded 14-team Atlantic 10. Rhode Island is 5-5 straight up and 6-4 ATS in the last 10.

https://youtu.be/B58UF8bsHCI

The Rams are 3-1 straight up and ATS in the last four Kingston, losing 69-61 as a 3-point favorite the last time here in 2020. Rhode Island has been favored in five of the last six at home. The total has gone under in five of the previous six in Rhode Island

Richmond is 3-0 ATS as a road favorite this season, while Rhode Island has not given points at home. Rhode Island is 3-1 ATS after a loss.

Spiders Try New Look

Richmond has won and covered its last two games after making a slight tweak to its starting group, inserting handyman 6’5 Andre Gustavson to complement Jacob Gilyard in the backcourt.

Own the paint 💪🏽

Grant Golden (18) and Nathan Cayo (18) combine for 36 points and shoot 16-26 from the field as Richmond wins another one on the road. #OneRichmond pic.twitter.com/adntdDMkbK

— Richmond Basketball (@SpiderMBB) January 22, 2022

Gustavson had eight points, five rebounds and five steals in the victory at La Salle and had 11 points, seven rebounds and two steals against Fordham.

Gustavson missed the first nine games of the season after undergoing groin surgery last summer and was limited in his return, reaching double-digit minutes in only the last four games. He is considered the Spiders’ best perimeter defender. La Salle shot 38.2 percent from the floor Saturday.

Bigs on Bigs Matchup

Richmond forwards 6’10 Grant Golden and 6’7 Nathan Cayo had 36 points and were 16 of 26 from the field against La Salle, which rotates three 6’8 players up front. Golden averages 15.1 points and 5.9 rebounds, second on the team in both behind 6’7 Tyler Burton (16.8, 7.0).

Rhode Island twins 6’10 Makhel Mitchell and 6’9 Makhi Mitchell are 1-3 on the Rams in scoring and 1-2 in rebounding, averaging a combined 21.2 points and 11.5 rebounds. Makhel had four blocked shots against GW is averaging 3.0 blocked shots per game, tied for 14th in Division I.

Betting Trends

Richmond has been a go-with play on the road this season, going 6-2 ATS against a schedule that includes North Carolina State (win and cover), Drake (loss and cover) and Northern Iowa (win and cover), results that will appeal to the NCAA tournament selection committee.

Rhody is 5-3 ATS at home after failing to cover its last two. It had a season-long eight-game home winning streak broken by GW. The Rams won and covered against Boston College and Boston University, their best home wins.

Richmond vs Rhode Island Prediction

Richmond takes care of the ball, averaging only 9.6 turnovers per game, and has benefitted from the addition of Finn Andre Gustavson to the starting lineup. Any points in this game of near-equals are worth taking.

The pick: Richmond +2.5 (-110)