It figures to be a low-scoring affair as the Fordham Rams (10-4) visit VCU to play the Rams (11-5). The game starts at 7:00 pm ET on Wednesday, Jan. 13.
The Rams beat Saint Louis 72-56 on Sunday. Mo Alie-Cox was the team’s high scorer with 16 points on 3-for-5 shooting. The Fordham Rams are coming off a 93-82 loss at the hands of Richmond on Sunday. Ryan Rhoomes played well for Fordham, accumulating 18 points, eight rebounds, and three steals.
Points could be at a premium in this matchup between two of the nation’s best defenses. VCU ranks 30th in the nation in defensive efficiency (94.3), while Fordham is 14th (91.4). It could also be an error-filled game for the offense of the Rams, which ranks 311th in ball security (TO% of 21.0%). They’ll be going up against the ball-hawking defense of the Rams, which forces the fifth-most turnovers in the nation (25.4%).
The Fordham Rams enter the game with records of 11-5 Straight Up (SU) and 8-3 Against The Spread (ATS). Teams really have to fight for three-pointers against the Rams, who have allowed only 5.0 three-pointers to opponents per game. The Rams are the fourth-best team in the country at taking the ball away from their opponents, averaging 10.2 steals per game.
On the other side, the Rams head into the game with records of 3-4 ATS and 10-4 SU. Fordham is one of the top three-point shooting teams in the nation, converting .383 of their shots from three-point range. Switching gears to the Fordham defense, teams don’t seem to hit many three-pointers against the Rams, who are 11th in the country in terms of three-point field goals allowed at 79 this season. They average 9.9 steals per game, good for sixth in the nation.
This game marks the first time these teams will play this season. The last time these conference rivals played, VCU won, bringing its SU record to 5-0 over Fordham in their most recent games. However, with a 3-2 record, Fordham has the advantage ATS. VCU topped the Fordham Rams in three key areas (field goals, rebounds, and three-pointers) once over the last five matchups. Fordham has never had the edge in all three categories.
Predictions: SU Winner – VCU, ATS Winner – VCU
Notes
Virginia Commonwealth is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games.
Virginia Commonwealth is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home.
Virginia Commonwealth is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Fordham.
The Fordham Rams have a defensive rating of 91.4 (ranked 14th), while the VCU Rams have an offensive rating of 106.9 (ranked 149th).
With 70.3 possessions and 1.069 points per possession, the VCU Rams perform worse on both metrics than the Fordham Rams. Fordham averages 70.8 possessions and 1.090 points per possession.
The Fordham Rams average an effective field goal percentage of 54.2% this season. The VCU Rams have a winning 4-2 record in games where opponents have an eFG% of 54.2% or greater.
The VCU Rams average 21.0 three point attempts per game, and the Fordham Rams attempt 21.0 per game. When going for at least 20 three pointers in a game this season, both teams have winning records; VCU is 7-1 and Fordham is 8-2.
VCU ranks 84th in the nation with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.22. Fordham is ranked lower at 118th with an A/TO of 1.17.
VCU ranks 50th in offensive rebounding. Fordham ranks 184th in defensive rebounding.
Though VCU is one of the best in the country in forcing turnovers with opponents averaging a TO% of 25.4% (ranked fifth), Fordham is undefeated (3-0) when its TO% is 25.4% or greater.
