VCU Rams vs Butler Bulldogs Betting Odds

Opening Line: VCU +2.5 / Butler -2.5 Over/Under: 133.5

Time: 6:09 PM EST Saturday April 2, 2011 on CBS

This game is a match up of the 2 highest combined seeds in Big Dance history when 11th seed VCU faces 8th seed Butler. Butler was in VCU’s position last season, as this season the Rams are the Cinderella team. What has been even more surprising about the Rams’ run to the Final 4 is that they beat 6th seed Georgetown, 3rd seed Purdue, and top-seed Kansas by a total of 46 points. Butler’s road to the Final 4 has not been as easy winning their 4 games by an average of 3.3 points per game.

VCU plays an up-tempo pace and they can really drain the 3, but the Bulldogs are favored having a good inside/outside game and they were in the Final 4 last season.

In their Elite 8 games VCU pulled off a shocking upset beating Kansas 71-61 and Butler beat Florida 74-71 in OT.

This season Butler has been a better betting team at 19-13-2 ATS while VCU is at 18-20 ATS.

The Rams only shot 39.6% from the floor in their win over Kansas, but they were on fire hitting 12/25 of their 3 pointers and for the game they took more 3-pt shots than 2-pt shots (12-9). Rams F Jamie Skeen had 26 points and 10 boards hitting 4/7 of his 3-pointers against Kansas and the Butler D has to key on him.

VCU PG Joey Rodriguez is key for the Rams and their fast-paced game and he and the Rams’ backcourt has to get up and down the court and find open teammates to win, as if Butler can slow them down and make them play a half-court game the Bulldogs have a big advantage.

Not many gave Butler much of a chance to get back to the title game this season, especially with last year’s star Gordon Hayward in the NBA, but G Shelvin Mack and F Matt Howard have stepped up and these guys are key for the Bulldogs. In the win over Florida this duo combined to score 41 points.

The Rams must play an up-tempo game and shoot the rock well from deep in this game. In the Kansas game they played great D, but they had 10 fewer rebounds than the Jayhawks and if they have to play a half-court game the Bulldogs will likely kill them on the glass.

Butler’s D held Florida to only 21.4% 3-pt shooting percentage (3/14) and if they can hold the Rams to around that number they will be headed back to the National Championship game.

Final 4 Betting Trends

Butler has covered the spread in their 4 NCAA tourney games and VCU has covered all 5 of their tournament games. In the Big Dance VCU has an Over/Under record of 2-3 and Butler is at 2-2.

Our Selection : Yes Butler has the experieince, but VCU is playing outstanding basketball in the tournament. The Rams did pull off a narrow overtime win versus the Seminoles on Friday, but in other games they have dominated the competition. Kansas, Purdue and Georgetown all lost by double digits. The Bulldogs defeat of Pittsburgh was shocking and we do feel that they will battle VCU throughout, however this Rams team has more team speed and talent to prevail. Take VCU +2.5 at Bodog.