VCU will play USC tonight in what is being called the first round of the 2011 NCAA Tournament, even though it is really just the first four play-in games. The winner of this game will earn the 11th seed in the Southwest Region and a shot at sixth seeded Georgetown.If you look at the odds over at SB Nation (provided by Bodog) it looks like USC is the favorite.
| 03/16/2011 | Virginia Commonwealth | 129½o-108 | 127½o-105 | 127o-115 |
| 8:00 PM | USC | -4-110 | -4-105 | -4½-110 |
USC is from a power conference, and for the most part, those teams get the nod when facing a team from a smaller conference. For a prediction, we turn to Matt Martz at Cappers Picks, because he is the kind of guy who does this sort of thing for a living.
Matt’s Free Prediction: The Rams have shown more consistency throughout the season and their solid defense should disrupt Vucevic, which limits the Trojans options offensively and should give the VCU the win.
He isn't just calling for VCU to cover, he's calling for them to win outright. I think that would surprise a lot of people, considering how controversial their inclusion in the field was. I'm not sure it would help justify that, but it certainly wouldn't hurt.