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The seventh-seeded VCU Rams hope to continue their March Madness success under head coach Shaka Smart when they face the 10th-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes in a second-round West Region game of the NCAA Tournament.
Its just the fifth time since 2008 that a 10 seed has been favored over a 7 seed, according to the March Madness database here at Odds Shark. OSU was -4 in early betting at Sportsbook.
The Rams just knocked off the Dayton Flyers as 2.5-point favorites in the Atlantic-10 Tournament title game, and the Flyers upset the Buckeyes as 6.5-point underdogs in the second round last year en route to the school’s first-ever Elite Eight appearance.
VCU upset the top-seeded Davidson Wildcats 93-73 as a 3.5-point dog in the semifinals of the Atlantic-10 Tournament, and the school has made the Big Dance five straight years under Smart. The most successful run for the Rams during that stretch came in 2011 when they made it all the way to the Final Four before losing 70-62 to the Butler Bulldogs as 3.5-point underdogs.
Ohio State is coming off a 76-67 loss to the Michigan State Spartans as a 1.5-point underdog in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament after winning four of its previous five. The other loss for the Buckeyes during that stretch came at home against the Wisconsin Badgers in a 72-48 rout as 2.5-point underdogs on March 8.
Ohio State Buckeyes vs Virginia Commonwealth Rams Odds and Stats.
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The Ohio State Buckeyes will look to cover the spread vs the Virginia Commonwealth Rams on Thursday, as the Buckeyes are 15-16-1 ATS versus the spread this season, while the Rams are 14-20 ATS. Ohio State is 17-15 against the total, while Virginia Commonwealth is 15-16 versus the total betting line.
The Rams - Buckeyes odds would favor the Rams if the lines were set according to our power ranks. Virginia Commonwealth is rated No. 30 in the current Odds Shark poll, while Ohio State is at No. 72.
How Ohio State Buckeyes vs Virginia Commonwealth Rams Stats Matchup
When it comes to rebounds, the visiting Ohio State Buckeyes rank No. 70 in NCAA Basketball Division 1 with 35.85 per game. That compares with Virginia Commonwealth’s No. 91 ranking in that category. The story is different when it comes to three-point shooting where Virginia Commonwealth is college basketball's No. 22-ranked team at 8.09 per game, while the Ohio State Buckeyes rate No. 83 with 6.82 per game.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
D'Angelo Russell scored 19 points in a futile effort to lead the Buckeyes to a win (they lost 76-67 to Michigan State at United Center on Friday).
Virginia Commonwealth got 20 points and 13 rebounds from Treveon Graham en route to a 71-65 victory over Dayton on Sunday at Barclays Center.
VCU vs Ohio State betting trends:
VCU 12-3 ATS past 15 tournament games
VCU covered final three games of season, following 6-game ATS losing skid in March
Ohio State is 6-1 SU, 5-2 ATS past seven games as favorites
Ohio State is 1-5 ATS past six Madness games
Ohio State was upset as favorite in first round last year (Dayton)
VCU 6-1 ATS past seven first round games
7 seeds are 5-2-1 ATS past two seasons vs 10s
Only the fifth time since 2008 that a 10 has been favored by a 7
