Stephen Nover's CBB Tourney Finals Crusher
(NCAAB) Rhode Island vs. VCU, 03/12/2017 8:30 AM, Score: 70 - 63
Point Spread: 0.00 | -107.00 Rhode Island (Away)
Result: Win
I'm going to roll with Rhode Island, which is playing its best basketball. The Rams are peaking winning their last seven games. Included among these victories is a 69-59 home victory against VCU that was achieved five games ago on Feb. 25. The Rams prevailed by double-digits in that win as 3 1/2-point favorites despite making just 35 percent of their shots from the floor.

Rhode Island needs this victory to gain an automatic seed into the NCAA Tournament. A loss here to VCU could keep Rhode Island from making the tournament.

VCU had to go overtime to beat Richmond in the semifinals of the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament Saturday. That was the later game, too. Rhode Island had a much easier time waltzing past Davidson by 24 points in the earlier Saturday semifinal game.

I like that Rhode Island is hitting its ceiling, has less of a fatigue factor than VCU and is deep in the backcourt.