Saint Louis vs. Richmond prediction and odds for Tuesday, February 21
By Josh Yourish
The Saint Louis Billikens have risen to the top of the Atlantic 10 conference at 18-9 and 10-4 in conference play, and they’re only behind one team and it’s a team from Richmond, VA.
Tonight, they play the other team from Richmond, the Spiders who are 13-14 (6-8 in A-10 play). Richmond won a game in the tournament last year after stealing a bid by winning the A-10 tourney to make it to the big dance.
That’s its only path this year, but I don’t think it’s in the cards as the Spiders are under .500.
Despite its poor record, Richmond is still a favorite at home against Saint Louis tonight.
Saint Louis vs. Richmond odds, spread and total
Saint Louis vs. Richmond prediction and pick
The key to Richmond’s success last year was having the most reliable, veteran point guard in the conference in Jacob Gilyard.
Now, Saint Louis has that player in Yuri Collins. Collins is averaging 11.7 points and 9.9 assists a game which is first in the entire country. The Billikens also have multiple scoring options around him with Gibson Jimerson and Javonte Perkins.
Saint Louis is my pick to win the A-10 tournament in a few weeks.
However, the Billikens aren’t overly reliable at the moment. They are 1-4-1 against the spread in their last six games and they are 3-3 straight up in that stretch. Meanwhile, Richmond is 1-9 ATS in its last 10.
Most of the Spiders’ struggles this year have come on the road where they are 1-9, but at home this team is 11-3.
With Tyler Burton averaging nearly 19 points as a prolific wing-scorer and they should have some offensive success, I just can’t trust a team that’s been so bad in their last 10 games.
Richmond is 149th in defensive efficiency at 0.997, but over its last three games that efficiency is up to 1.137 which would be 362nd in the country.
Saint Louis is 174th in defensive efficiency at 1.006 and even it has been worse in their most recent three games, sitting at 1.055. I’ll take the over in this one.
Follow all Josh Yourish’s bets HERE
—
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change