Rhode Island Rams vs Dayton Flyers Prediction, 3/4/2021 College Basketball Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Rhode Island Rams vs Dayton Flyers

Date: Thursday, March 4, 2021

Location: Stuart C. Siegel Center in Richmond, VA

TV: NBCSN

Odds/Point Spread: Rhode Island (+2)

The Rhode Island Rams (10-14) are headed to Stuart C. Siegel Center on Thursday where they'll meet the Dayton Flyers (13-8). Dayton opens this matchup as 2-point favorites. The total has been set at 135.

Rhode Island comes into this game with a record of 10-14 on the season. The Rams are connecting on 30.9% on shots from distance (134 of 433) and 67.5% from the charity stripe. They average 71.4 pts per game (178th in the country) while hitting 44.0% from the field. They turn it over 14.3 times per game and as a unit they commit 17.9 personal fouls every game. As a team, Rhode Island is pulling in 38.8 rebounds per contest and has accounted for 290 assists so far this year, which has them ranked 161st in the country in terms of passing the ball. On the defensive end, the Rams are forcing their opponents into 12.7 turnovers every game while drawing 19.1 fouls. They concede 32.2% on shots from downtown while they are 194th in college hoops in PPG allowed (70.5). The Rams are giving up an opponent shooting percentage of 41.2% (593 of 1,438) and they relinquish 35.1 boards per game as a basketball team. They are currently ranked 278th in the nation in giving up assists to their opponents with 322 conceded on the season.

The Rhode Island Rams stepped onto the hardwood against the Duquesne Dukes and went home with a loss by a final score of 86-75 in their last contest. Rhode Island walked away from the game having earned a 41.5% field goal percentage (27 out of 65) and made 3 out of their 17 shots from beyond the perimeter. When they shot from the free throw line, the Rams knocked down 18 of 26 attempts for a percentage of 69.2%. In the matter of rebounding, they collected 32 with 12 of them being of the offensive variety. They also doled out 14 assists for the game while forcing 14 turnovers and having 9 steals. When it comes to the defense, Rhode Island allowed their opponent to shoot 53.4% from the field on 31 of 58 shooting. Duquesne earned 19 dimes and had 5 steals for this game. Furthurmore, Duquesne grabbed 35 rebounds (11 offensive, 24 defensive) and added 10 blocks. Duquesne shot 65.2% at the free throw line by burying 15 of 23 attempts. They converted 9 of 17 shots from 3-point range.

Fatts Russell is someone who came through for this game. He racked up 27 points on 8 out of 21 shooting. He was on the hardwood for 36 mins and snagged 3 boards. Russell went 38.1% from the floor and also dished out 5 assists. Another guy that was a factor in the game for the Rams was Antwan Walker. He collected 5 rebounds in 25 minutes played on the night. He went 44.4% from the field for this game by hitting 4-of-9 (9 points). When all was said and done, Walker tallied 2 assists.

Dayton has a win-loss record of 13-8 on the season. When it comes to offensive execution, the Flyers are hitting on 47.9% from the floor, which ranks 41st in the country. Dayton has accounted for 1,462 pts on the year (69.6 per contest) and they average 33.1 boards per game. They are assisting teammates 13.7 times per game (139th in the country) and they are losing possession via turnover 14.5 times per game. The Flyers have committed 15.3 fouls per game and they go 72.2% from the charity stripe. The Flyers on the defensive side of the court are 92nd in the nation in PPG given up with 67.2. The Dayton defense allows 31.4% from downtown (150 of 477) and their opponents are knocking down 64.7% of their free throw shots. They have relinquished 12.6 dimes and 33.1 rebounds every game, ranking them 151st and 99th in those categories. They are forcing 11.9 TO's every game and have allowed teams to shoot 41.5% from the floor (83rd in college hoops).

The last time they took the court, the Dayton Flyers walked away with a victory by a final of 55-52 when they faced the St. Bonaventure Bonnies. The Flyers were able to corral 28 defensive boards and 5 offensive rebounds totaling 33 for the game. They also turned it over 20 times, while earning 2 steals for this contest. The Bonnies committed 14 personal fouls in this matchup which got the Flyers to the charity stripe for a total of 15 attempts. They were able to convert 9 of the free throw attempts for a percentage of 60.0%. When it comes to shooting from distance, Dayton knocked down 6 of 12 attempts (50.0%). When the final whistle blew, the Flyers went 20 for 44 from the floor which gave them a shooting percentage of 45.5%. The Flyers allowed the Bonnies to convert 18 of their 60 tries from the field which gave them a rate of 30.0% in this contest. They shot 29.2% from 3-point land by shooting 7 out of 24 and ended up going 9 out of 13 at the free throw line (69.2%). When it comes to how they rebounded, Dayton permitted St. Bonaventure to get 32 in total (13 on the offensive side).

Ibi Watson was important for the Flyers for the game. He buried 5 of 7 for the game for a field goal percentage of 71.4%, and had 5 rebounds. Watson recorded 14 points in his 30 minutes on the court, but wasn't able to notch an assist. One more player who came through for Dayton was R.J. Blakney. He left the arena with no assists in his 27 mins played, and he put in 3 of 4 from the floor. Blakney ended up shooting 75.0% from the floor while earning 9 points and 5 rebounds.

Who will win tonight's college basketball game against the spread?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Dayton (-2)

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