Odds: VCU -2.5; Over\/Under 141.5<\/strong><\/p>\n Dayton enters the Atlantic 10 championship<\/a> at 23-10 overall after a narrow 70\u201369 win over Saint Louis, relying on efficient guard play and strong interior finishing. The Flyers average 71.8 points in conference games and shoot 44.6%, with Javon Bennett<\/a> leading the offense at 16.3 points per game. De\u2019Shayne Montgomery<\/a> adds 13.6 points and provides downhill scoring, while Amael L\u2019Etang<\/a> gives Dayton a 7\u2011foot interior anchor who finishes well around the rim. Dayton also shoots 35.1% from three, which helps space the floor for Bennett and Montgomery. Their free\u2011throw shooting at 76.7% is certainly a major strength in close games. Dayton must control tempo and avoid extended scoring droughts to stay competitive.<\/p>\n Defensively, Dayton allows 70.0 points in A\u201110 play and holds opponents to 43.6% shooting, ranking among the league\u2019s better units. They defend the three well, allowing only 33.4%, and their length helps contest perimeter shots. Bennett and Montgomery pressure the ball, while L\u2019Etang protects the paint and rebounds effectively. Dayton averages 29.1 rebounds, but they must improve on the defensive glass, as opponents pull down 30.5 boards. Undoubtedly, their biggest challenge will be containing VCU\u2019s balanced scoring and preventing transition runs. Dayton must stay disciplined, avoid fouls, and force VCU into half\u2011court possessions.<\/p>\n For Dayton to win, they must slow the game and rely on execution. Bennett needs to control pace and hit timely shots. Montgomery must attack closeouts and generate pressure on the rim. L\u2019Etang must win his interior matchup and protect the paint. Dayton also needs consistent perimeter shooting to prevent VCU from collapsing defensively. Their best path is a controlled, low\u2011mistake game where they limit turnovers and keep VCU out of transition. If Dayton rebounds well, defends the arc, and maintains offensive balance, they can stay in position to claim the A\u201110 title.<\/p>\n VCU enters the A\u201110 final<\/a> at 26\u20137 overall after a strong 77\u201364 win over Saint Joseph\u2019s. The Rams average 79.4 points in conference play and shoot 45.7%, ranking among the league\u2019s most efficient offenses. Terrence Hill<\/a> leads the team with 14.3 points and provides dynamic guard play. Lazar Djokovic<\/a> adds 13.8 points and 5.5 rebounds, giving VCU a skilled forward who scores at all levels. Jadrian Tracey<\/a> and Brandon Jennings<\/a> add perimeter scoring and defensive versatility. VCU shoots 35.2% from three and gets to the line at a high rate, averaging 19.3 made free throws, which boosts their scoring consistency.<\/p>\n Defensively, VCU allows 72.2 points in A\u201110 play and holds opponents to 44.5% shooting. They certainly defend the three extremely well, allowing only 32.1%, and their perimeter length disrupts rhythm. The Rams also rebound effectively with 32.6 boards, ranking near the top of the league. Their ball pressure generates 6.8 steals, and they force 10.2 turnovers. Djokovic provides interior strength, while Hill and Jennings pressure opposing guards. VCU must stay disciplined against Dayton\u2019s efficient shooters and avoid giving up clean looks from deep.<\/p>\n For VCU to win, they must push tempo and attack Dayton\u2019s half\u2011court defense. Hill needs to set the tone early and create mismatches. Djokovic must win his matchup inside and stretch Dayton\u2019s defense. Jennings must provide perimeter scoring and defensive pressure. VCU must also dominate the glass and limit second\u2011chance points. Their ball movement should create open threes. If VCU forces turnovers, controls the pace, and maintains defensive intensity, they can dictate the game and secure the A\u201110 championship.<\/p>\n Dayton enters the A\u201110 title game with confidence after a tight 70\u201369 win over Saint Louis. The Flyers average 71.8 points in conference play and rely on steady scoring from Bennett, Montgomery, and L\u2019Etang. Their half\u2011court execution and disciplined shot selection help them stay close in slower, physical games. VCU has beaten Dayton twice this season, but beating a strong opponent three times is historically difficult. Dayton\u2019s defense holds opponents to 43.6% shooting, and their perimeter discipline can slow VCU\u2019s guards. With Dayton\u2019s strong free\u2011throw shooting and late\u2011game composure, the +2.5 sits in a favorable range.<\/p>\n The total sets up well for the Under because both teams defend well and prefer structured possessions. Dayton allows only 70.0 points in A\u201110 play and limits clean looks from deep. VCU gives up 72.2 points, but their perimeter defense is strong, allowing just 32.1% from three. Dayton\u2019s offense leans on half\u2011court sets, while VCU\u2019s scoring often comes from controlled pressure rather than pace. Unquestionably, expect stretches where both sides grind for quality shots and possessions extend deep into the clock. The matchup leans toward a defensive, physical rhythm.<\/p>\n The most likely script features Dayton keeping the game tight with disciplined defense, strong guard play, and efficient late\u2011game execution. Bennett can control tempo, Montgomery can attack mismatches, and L\u2019Etang can protect the rim. VCU will make runs, but Dayton\u2019s ability to limit turnovers and defend the arc should keep them within striking distance. With Dayton\u2019s resilience and matchup stability, the +2.5 is the stronger side. Combined with both defenses\u2019 strengths and the expected slower pace, the Under 141.5 fits the likely flow of the A\u201110 final.<\/p>\n Final Predictions: Dayton +2.5 & Under 141.5<\/strong><\/p>\n Featured Image: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It’s on the Atlantic 10 finals, and we will break down the matchup between the Dayton Flyers and the VCU Rams at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. The Flyers got here with a 70-69 win over St Louis, and they are now 23-10 on the year. VCU checks in off a 77-64 win over […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5785,"featured_media":181617,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,49087,773,50440],"tags":[2742,850],"class_list":["post-181579","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-basketball-betting","category-college-basketball","category-ncaa-predictions","tag-dayton-flyers","tag-vcu-rams"],"modified_by":"Michael Kovacs, ADMIN","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/181579","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5785"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=181579"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/181579\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":181618,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/181579\/revisions\/181618"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/181617"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=181579"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=181579"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=181579"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Dayton Flyers<\/h3>\n
VCU Rams<\/h3>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/03\/USATSI_28496375_168420457_lowres-1024x729.jpg\")
Predictions<\/h3>\n