UConn vs VCU Odds and Picks (Nov. 26)

• No. 22 UConn is a 7.5-point favorite over VCU
• UConn is 5-1, 3-3 ATS
• VCU is 3-3 straight up and ATS

No. 22 UConn (5-1) is a 7.5-point favorite over VCU in the third-place game of the Bad Boy Movers Battle 4 Atlantis at 1:30 pom ET Friday at Paradise Island, the Bahamas. The Huskies have scored at least 93 points three times.

VCU (3-3) has alternated wins and losses in its first six games and extended that trend in the Bahamas, beating Syracuse 77-65 as a 5.5-point underdog in the first round and losing to Baylor 69-61 while covering the +13.5-point number in the second. The Rams are 3-0 as an underdog this season.

UConn vs VCU Odds

Odds from FanDuel on Nov. 25

The money changed hands quickly in  UConn’s 115-109 double overtime victory over No. 19 Auburn in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis. The Huskies were a 2.5-point favorite, and they still would have won (but not covered) if Isaiah Whaley had not missed a jumper with two seconds remaining in regulation and the game tied at 83.

Playing to the Buzzer

UConn has been on both ends of the exhilaration scale in the Battle 4 Atlantis, hitting a season-high in points in the 115-109 double-overtime victory over No. 19 Auburn on Wednesday followed by a season-low in points in the 64-60 loss to Michigan State on Thursday.

The Huskies failed to hold a 15-point lead against Auburn, and led again in overtime before the Tigers forced a second overtime. UConn had a five-point lead in the final 1:41 against Michigan State but gave up the final nine points while going 0 for 4 from the field with a turnover in that stretch.

The Huskies’ four returning starters have stepped up in the Bahamas. Sophomore 6’9 forward Adama Sonogo had a career-high 30 points against Auburn while playing with four fouls in the stretch run, and he followed that with 18 points and 10 rebounds against Michigan State.

Senior 6’7 forward Tyrese Martin had  16 points and 12 rebounds against the Spartans despite suffering a sprained left wrist against Auburn.

"Not today!" – Sanogo pic.twitter.com/XKig0l3X3I

— UConn Men's Basketball (@UConnMBB) November 24, 2021

Senior 6’8 forward Tyler Polley had a career-high 24 points including against Auburn, including the go-ahead 3-pointer in the second overtime, and senior 6’1 guard R.J. Cole had 24 points against the Tigers.

Sonogo is averaging 18.5 points and 6.8 rebounds, one of four starters scoring in double figures. Maritn is averaging 13.8 points and a team-high 7.7 rebounds.

Huskies’ starting 6’8 forward Isaiah Whaley did not play against Michigan State after fainting in front of the UConn bench following the win over Auburn, in which he two points, seven rebounds, four blocked shots and four assists in 43 minutes.

He was diagnosed with fatigue and dehydration that caused him to feel light-headed. His status for the VCU game is unknown.

Ram Tough

VCU still plays that Shaka Smart-style defense. The Rams were the first team to play No. 6 Baylor within double digits in its 69-61 loss in the second round Thursday, and they trimmed an 11-point second-half deficit to four on KeShawn Curry’s layup with 16 seconds remaining before Baylor clinched it with free throws.

The Rams held Baylor to 40.4 percent shooting from the field after limiting Syracuse to 29.0 percent in a 77-65 first-round victory. Baylor and the Orange were a combined 10 of 38 from three-point range and committed 34 turnovers, 18 by Baylor.

VCU 6’6 forward Vince Williams, one of three returning starters, had 17 points against Baylor, with three threes, five assists, three rebounds and two steals. Senior 6’6 forward Levin Stockard III had 28 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 10 of 17 from the field in the first two games in the Bahamas.

"Not today!" – Sanogo pic.twitter.com/XKig0l3X3I

— UConn Men's Basketball (@UConnMBB) November 24, 2021

By the Numbers

UConn is averaging 90.5 points a game, fifth in Division I, and is giving up allowing just 63.0. The Huskies are shooting 47.8 percent from the floor, 39.7 percent from three-point range.

The Rams are averaging 55.2 points a game and giving up 54.8 They are fourth in NCAA Division I in field goal percentage defense, limiting opponents to 31.9 percent. and are third in three-point field goal percentage defense at 21.2 percent.

THIS IS VCU BASKETBALL 🏀🐏◼️🔶#ThisIsRamNation #LetsGoVCU pic.twitter.com/gDisSIpK0p

— VCU Basketball (@VCU_Hoops) November 25, 2021

The Huskies are No. 14 in adjusted efficiency margin in the KenPom ratings and VCU is 110. The teams have met once when UConn posted a 72-61 home victory in the 1988 NIT quarterfinals. The Huskies won the NIT that year.

Both teams will feel the sting of playing their third game in as many days, and it is more difficult to play offense than defense on tired legs.

The pick: VCU +7.5 (-110)