The 2018-19 UCF Knights became the first team in program history to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. With an 0-4 all-time tournament record, they also look to become the first squad to win and advance to the weekend. The Knights are 28-8 overall and 18-12-1 against the spread this season, but 8-2 ATS over their past 10 games.
Virginia Commonwealth finished 25-7 during the regular season and posted a bettor-friendly 20-11-1 ATS record. The Rams are 10-3 ATS over their past 13 games. As one would expect in a No. 8 vs No. 9 matchup, the line opened with VCU favored by 1 before the script flipped to UCF -1. The total opened at 125 before it jumped to 127.
Aside from watching Tacko Fall run the floor, this has all the makings of a slow-tempo, grind-it-out defensive struggle where the first team to 65 wins. Whereas VCU may boast the more statistically sexy defensive metrics, the Knights beat both Cincinnati and Houston in the last few weeks, while the Rams’ best win this season may have come at Texas.
In a coin-flip No. 8 vs No. 9 matchup, I’ll lean UCF -1 and take the OVER.
UCF is 22-7 SU in its last 29 games.away VCU is 3-1 SU and ATS in its last four games vs the American Athletic.home UCF is 8-1 SU in its last nine games after a loss.away