UCF vs VCU prediction, line: Tacko Fall’s Knights should rack up the points

UCF is the lower-seeded NCAA Tournament team in this No. 8-No. 9 first-round matchup, but the murkiness seems to surround the team that is currently the underdog on the betting board.
VCU’s leading scorer, Marcus Evans, was injured in the team’s Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament semifinal game last week and is questionable as of Friday evening. Though this is a Virginia Commonwealth team that brings as many as five players off the bench to play meaningful minutes, this hurts one of the lesser offensive teams in the field.
VCU ranks second-worst among March Madness teams in 3-point shooting and must face a Central Florida team with 7-foot-6 Tacko Fall, who registers the second-most blocks of any player in the NCAA Tournament.

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Though VCU ranks second in Division I basketball in defensive efficiency, the Knights have the upper hand in regards to rebound rate and do a good job of being able to get to the free-throw line.
The Rams rank 312th in the country in fouls per game committed, and UCF takes the most free throws per field goal attempt of any NCAA Tournament team. This should allow the Knights to rack up easy points and pull out the win.

THE PICK: Take UCF, -1.
Greg Peterson handicaps college basketball in VSiN’s Point Spread Weekly. Sign up for a one-week free trial at VSiN.com/free.