The college basketball betting action continues Tuesday, March 1, with the highly-anticipated Atlantic 10 Conference clash from Stuart C. Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia, so here’s the best St. Bonaventure vs. VCU betting pick.

The Bonnies and Rams lock horns for the second time in 2021-22. Back in January, the Bonnies thrashed off the Rams 73-53 as 3-point home favorites with a total of 131.0 points. St. Bonaventure is a 3.5-point road underdog this time around, while the totals are listed as 131.5 points on BetDSI Sportsbook.

The Bonnies eye their eighth straight victory            

The St. Bonaventure Bonnies (19-7; 11-15 ATS) are rolling on a seven-game winning streak following a 54-52 road victory at Saint Joseph’s this past Saturday. They barely avoided an upset, playing as firm 7.5-point favorites, so the Bonnies failed to cover for the first time during their terrific run.

St. Bonaventure shot only 38.7% from the field and 11.1% from beyond the arc against the Hawks. The Bonnies still managed to overcome an eight-point second-half deficit, as they defense did an excellent job down the stretch. Senior guard Jalen Adaway led the way with 14 points, seven rebounds, and three steals, while another senior G Kyle Lofton posted a line of 12 points, eight boards, and four assists.

The Bonnies improved to 11-4 in the conference play. They are now fourth in the Atlantic 10, only half a game off the No. 3 seed. St. Bonaventure is No. 79 in the latest NCAA NET Rankings and No. 81 in the KenPom rankings.

The Rams shoot for their eighth straight W, too             

The VCU Rams (20-7; 17-10 ATS) extended their winning streak to seven games last Saturday. They easily outlasted the UMass Minutemen 77-62 on the road, playing as 6.5-point favorites. The Rams improved to 13-3 in the conference play, remaining the No. 2 seed in the Atlantic 10.

VCU forced UMass into 22 turnovers. The Minutemen shot only 38.2% from the field and 15.8% from downtown, while the Rams made 52.7% of their field goals and 45.5% of their 3-pointers (5-for-11). Senior guard KeShawn led the charge for VCU with 18 points, four rebounds, three assists, and four steals.

The Rams lean on their stout defense a lot, surrendering only 88.4 points per 100 possessions (5th in the country) on 38.8% shooting from the field (15th) and 26.6% from beyond the arc (2nd). They are No. 53 in the NCAA NET Rankings and No. 65 in the KenPom rankings.

Trends:

St. Bonaventure:

  • 1-4 ATS in the last five outings as underdogs

VCU:

  • 13-6 ATS in the last 19 games overall

St. Bonaventure vs. VCU Pick

Something’s got to give when the Rams welcome the Bonnies, and one of the rivals will have to put an end to a seven-game win streak. We should see a tight, hard-fought battle, and I’m expecting the Rams’ defense to make the difference in crunch time.

Both teams desperately need a win. The Bonnies are on the bubble and need to convince the committee they deserve the play in March Madness. On the other side, the Rams are still alive in the race for the regular-season Atlantic 10 Conference title. If you want to take the risk at high wages, go with Any Team to Win By 5 or Fewer Points.

Pick: Take VCU -3.5 at -110                      

The Total:

The Rams score only 100.1 points per 100 possessions (253rd in the nation), but I’ve mentioned how good their defense has been so far this season. The Bonnies, on the other side, tally 110.0 points per 100 possessions (68th) and surrender 99.9 in a return (104th).

Neither team prefers to play at a fast pace, while both will try to play aggressive defense. We could easily see a lot of free throws down the stretch, but I still have to take the under.

Pick: Go under 131.5 points at -110