Predictions, Picks & Odds for VCU vs BYU First Round Matchup on March 20

• The #6 BYU Cougars are 3.5-point favorites over the #11 VCU Rams in March Madness first-round action
• VCU has the eighth stingiest defense nationally, which could decide the matchup
• See my favorite VCU vs BYU picks and predictions, plus the odds for Thursday’s matchup

March Madness begins in earnest on Thursday, March 20, and one of the more intriguing first-round games sess the eleventh-seeded VCU Rams (28-6, 18-3 Atlantic-10) squaring off with the sixth-seeded BYU Cougars (24-9, 15-7 Big 12). Tip-off is scheduled for 4:05pm ET at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. TNT will provide the television coverage in the United States and TSN in Canada. The college basketball odds favor BYU by 3.5 points.

VCU vs BYU Prediction

Both squads are looking to break lengthy droughts of not making it past the first round. VCU hasn’t advanced to the round of 32 since 2015-16, while BYU has been even longer, last making it to the second round in 2013-14.

The Rams are led by a pair of players both averaging 15.1 points on the campaign, with those being seniors Max Shulga and Joe Bamisile. Shulga paces the squad with the most assists per game (4.0) and second most rebounds (5.9).

The Cougars junior Richie Saunders averages 16.0 points per contest, nearly six points more than their second highest output of 10.3 in freshmen Egor Demin. Those two are third and fourth in rebounding for the team, and Demin leads in assists with 5.4 per duel. He’s also highly touted as a potential 2025 NBA draft lottery pick.

With VCU winning the A-10 tournament and BYU getting stomped by Houston in the Big 12 tournament, it gives me a little bit of pause. The 54 points scored by the Cougars was their lowest output of the season, after scoring no fewer than 77 points in their previous eight affairs.

It should come as no surprise that a #6 vs #11 battle won’t feature teams expected to be the national champion in the NCAA Tournament odds. On FanDuel, BYU is +12000, while their counterparts are +21000.

VCU vs BYU Pick

• VCU +3.5 (-112) at DraftKings

This it the second straight year BYU opens up against the reigning A-10 champ, after losing to Duquesne 71-67 in 2024. BYU is the superior offensive team, but VCU is stout defensively, allowing just 62.4 points per game, which is eighth best nationally.

I think VCU can hold down Egor Demin to make his life a misery. In the two Big 12 Championship games, he was held to just nine total points and was 3-for-13 in field goal attempts. The Rams stingy D can stifle Demin and Richie Saunders to cover the 3.5 point total.

VCU vs BYU Odds

The Cougars are currently favored by 3.5-points and they’re -162 on the moneyline, while the total is sitting at 145.5. Per the college basketball public betting trends, the public likes BYU to hold serve, with 73% of moneyline bets on the -162 favorites. 69% of wagers are on the over 145.5 point total.

Odds as of March 19 at DraftKings. Read SBD’s guide on March Madness betting strategy before wagering on the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

BYU has been 17-6 as the favorite this season, while VCU is 0-2 when they’re the underdog. The Rams have won twelve of their last 13 contests, while the Cougars have taken nine of ten, though they lost 74-54 to the Houston Cougars in their latest outing, the Big 12 championship semi-final.

Despite being the underdogs in the VCU vs BYU odds, SBD’s score predictor has the Rams to cover the 3.5 point spread, and in fact also win on the moneyline. It also has the total going over the 145.5 listed number.

Be sure to check out SBD’s other March Madness content:

The VCU Rams and BYU Cougars are set to face off in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament on March 20. Both teams have had successful seasons and are looking to make a deep run in the tournament.

The VCU Rams finished the regular season with a 19-7 record and earned an at-large bid to the tournament. They are led by head coach Mike Rhoades and have a balanced scoring attack, with four players averaging double figures in points per game. The Rams are known for their tough defense, holding opponents to just 64.3 points per game, which ranks 32nd in the nation.

On the other side, the BYU Cougars finished the regular season with a 20-6 record and earned an at-large bid to the tournament. They are led by head coach Mark Pope and have one of the top offenses in the country, averaging 78.7 points per game. The Cougars are led by senior guard Alex Barcello, who is averaging 15.9 points per game and shooting 48.8% from the field.

In terms of predictions, this matchup is expected to be a close one. Both teams have had strong seasons and are capable of making a deep run in the tournament. The odds for this game are likely to be close, with both teams having a good chance of coming out on top.

In terms of picks, it may come down to which team is able to execute their game plan better on both ends of the court. VCU will look to slow down BYU’s high-powered offense with their tough defense, while the Cougars will look to push the pace and score in transition.

Overall, this matchup between VCU and BYU is shaping up to be an exciting one. Both teams have the talent and experience to make a run in the tournament, so it will be interesting to see which team comes out on top in this first round matchup on March 20.