The Saint Joe's Hawks take on the VCU Rams in Richmond, VA. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.
VCU is favored by 15 points on the spread with a moneyline of -2000. The total is set at 152.5 points.
Here’s my Saint Joe's vs. VCU prediction and college basketball picks for January 19, 2026.
Saint Joe's vs VCU Prediction
My Pick: Saint Joe's +15 (Play to +12.5)
My Saint Joe's vs VCU best bet is on the Hawks to cover the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Saint Joe's vs. VCU Odds
| Saint Joe's Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+15 -110 | 152.5 -110o / -110u | +1000 |
| VCU Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-15 -110 | 152.5 -110o / -110u | -2000 |
- Saint Joe's vs VCU spread: VCU -15
- Saint Joe's vs VCU over/under: 152.5 points
- Saint Joe's vs VCU moneyline: Saint Joe's +1000, VCU -2000
Saint Joe's vs VCU College Basketball Betting Preview
Saint Joe's Basketball
Saint Joe's is on a roll entering this battle.
The Hawks have secured wins in three consecutive games, including a significant road victory over Richmond.
Their offense is one of the worst in the A-10, though, ranking 249th in offensive efficiency.
They run an extremely flawed approach. Coach Steve Donahue is all about spacing and shooting, but he didn’t build this roster, and it’s not one that’s built to shoot. He still has his boys attempt 3s on 44% of their field goal attempts, but they shoot a woeful 27% from deep, one of the bottom-10 marks in the sport.
Jaiden Glover-Toscano is a sniper, connecting on 38% of his shots from deep. The other four starters each shoot below 27% from deep. Two of the main culprits are guard Derek Simpson, who shoots 26% on over four attempts per game, and forward Anthony Finkley, who shoots 24% from the field.
The saving grace for the Hawks is their outstanding defense. Per KenPom, Saint Joe's has the 117th-best defense in the country. A strong presence at the rim leads the Hawks' defense to limit opponents to 46% shooting on 2s.
Four of the five starters in the Hawks' lineup are 6-foot-6 or taller, with 6-foot-10, 260-pound Justice Ajogbor standing in the middle. Scoring on Saint Joe's blend of size and athleticism is a tough ask.
Notice a trend in two of the three wins during Saint Joe's win streak? It held Richmond and St. Bonaventure to 65 and 64 points. That feels like the sweet spot for the Hawks to have a chance.
VCU Basketball
VCU isn't the dominant force that some thought it would be in the A-10; that's been the job of Saint Louis. It's been an up-and-down season for the Rams, who sit 3-2 in A-10 action with their biggest win coming by 13 against Duquesne.
Under first-year head coach Phil Martelli Jr., the Rams have adopted a more offense-oriented approach, ranking 44th in KenPom's offensive efficiency.
Shooting is the strength of VCU's offensive attack, as it's attempting 3s on 45% of its field goals and hitting 37% of them.
Terrence Hill Jr. is the sixth man for VCU, and he leads the team with 14 points per game while shooting 40% from deep. The Hawks have to keep a body on Hill at all times because he's a monster.
The Rams also crash the offensive glass, recording a 33% offensive rebound rate. All four of the bigs who play real minutes — Lazar Djokovic, Barry Evans, Michael Belle and Keyshawn Mitchell — look to grab extra possessions on the glass.
The occasional defensive lapse has been an issue for the Rams, as they rank No. 77 in KenPom's defensive efficiency. Similar to Saint Joe's, the strength of the Rams' defense is in limiting teams to 48% shooting on 2s.
After a make, you can expect a healthy diet of VCU pressure to speed up the pace. Martelli prefers his team to play fast, and the Rams are 83rd in adjusted tempo.
At times, the aggressive defense can lead to open 3s, which leads to the Rams allowing 3s to fall 34% of the time. That's the give and take of playing fast and playing aggressively.
Saint Joe's vs. VCU Betting Analysis
VCU enters as a 15.5-point favorite, and that number feels a bit too hefty. I just don't view the Rams as a top-50 level squad, which most metrics do.
Even still, the Rams just haven't blown out teams of late, which matters with such a big spread.
Saint Joe's is good enough to stay within close to single digits here. That solid defense will come to play.
My Pick: Saint Joe's +15 (Play to +12.5)
