Sweet 16: VCU Rams vs Florida State Seminoles | Prediction & Pick

Rams lock horns with the Seminoles

In a weird twist of fate, the No. 10 seed Florida State is facing off against No. 11 seed Virginia Commonwealth in the Sweet 16 round of this year’s NCAA Tournament on Friday in Alamo City.

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#11 Virginia Commonwealth (26-11, 12-6 CAA) vs. #10 Florida State (23-10, 11-5 ACC)

Date/Time: Friday, March 25, 9:57 PM ET
Venue: Alamodome in San Antonio, TX.
Broadcast: TBS

Money Line: VCU +155, Florida State -180
Spread: Florida State -3 ½
Over/Under: 132

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Every year there is one team that defies all odds and the VCU Rams are that team this year.

They have played three teams from big six conferences and have dispatched every single one to the shock of even the most experienced bracketologists. But isn’t this what makes March Madness so much fun?

First, the Rams handed the mighty USC Trojans a 59-46 defeat in a play-in game. Two days later, they destroyed perennial powerhouse Georgetown by 18 points, and then smashed a very talented No. 3 Purdue squad by 18 points.

Meanwhile, Florida State had its share of skeptics after its last two early exits, having lost in the first round to Gonzaga and Wisconsin by single digits in 2009 and 2010. But this year has been leaps and bounds better as they have used outstanding defense, and now find themselves in the Round of 16 after shutting down Texas A&M in the round of 64, and holding Notre Dame to 57 points in the round of 32.

Florida State, which leads the nation in field-goal defense, held Texas A&M to a meager 31.4-percent shooting.

The Seminoles are happy to have guard Chris Singleton back for the NCAA Tournament. He has played just 26 minutes and scored only five points in two games since returning from injury but having him back on the court has made a big difference mentally and emotionally.

VCU has been terrific thus far, but now it comes up against the best defensive team in the country.

The Seminoles has allowed just 61.7 points per game on just 36.0 percent shooting, which gives them the best shooting percentage defense in the nation. The Seminoles also defend the three-point shot tremendously well. They rank 11th nationally by holding foes to 30.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc. That could be a big problem for a Rams team that has relied heavily on their three-point attack in the early rounds.

However, the Rams have had great balance all season with four players averaging double-figures.  They had six players with 10 points or more against Purdue.

The odds makers have the Florida State Seminoles as a -3.5 point favorite with an over/under of 132.

Check out the latest March Madness Odds here.

Prediction: VCU has been terrific thus far, and I’m going against the grain and picking the Rams for the upset in this one.

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