Richmond vs. Davidson Game Preview, Odds, Picks & Predictions
Do Richmond Spiders Weave One More Upset?
Teams couldn’t take different paths to a conference title game.
No. 1 seed Davidson didn’t trail in the semifinals and were behind for just 2½ minutes in the semifinals while Richmond dug its way out of 15-point deficits twice during the Atlantic 10 Tournament.
Davidson is looking for its first Atlantic 10 title since 2018, while Richmond hasn’t won the title since 2011.
Davidson is 38th in the NCAA NET rankings, so despite winning 26 games, a loss on Sunday might keep the Wildcats out of the March Madness brackets. Richmond moved up to 82nd in the NET rankings.
Some March Madness predictions have Davidson earning a No. 10 seed while Richmond would be one of the lower-seeded teams if the Spiders pull off the upset.
Davidson is at +5000 in the odds to reach the Final Four.
Also, check out these NCAAB betting lines.
Never A Dull Moment During Richmond’s Tournament Run
Richmond certainly doesn’t lack for excitement at this time of the year.
The Richmond Spiders, who haven’t played for the Atlantic 10 championship since 2011, twice overcame 15-point deficits and are a game away from an improbable spot in the March Madness bracket.
It started in the first round when Rhode Island led by 14 points at halftime and was leading with less than five minutes left before Richmond went 11-of-12 from the foul line en route to the five-point win. After a rather routine win in the quarterfinals against Virginia Commonwealth, the Spiders were back playing from behind in the semifinals against a 23-win Dayton squad.
For the first time since 2011, @SpiderMBB earns its spot in the @A10MBB Tournament Championship 🏆
Richmond comes back from a 15-point deficit in the second half to upset No. 2 Dayton in the semis. pic.twitter.com/lXpijfwWfU
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) March 12, 2022
Second-seeded Dayton led by eight at halftime and the lead grew to 15 with 16:44 left to play. Jacob Gilyard had nine points and four assists the rest of the way, Grant Golden had nine points, while Tyler Burton and Matt Grace added eight down the stretch each as Richmond advanced with a four-point win.
Four of Richmond’s last six games finished over the Las Vegas NCAAB odds total.
Davidson Dials Long Distance To Reach Atlantic 10 Title Game
Considering that Davidson Wildcats‘ most prominent basketball alum happens to be NBA 3-point record holder Stephen Curry, it should not be that much of a surprise that the Wildcats used some sizzling perimeter shooting to advance to the program’s 21st conference championship game, including the second in the Atlantic 10.
Davidson hit five consecutive 3-pointers at one point in the first half of the Atlantic 10 semifinals and by halftime had eight 3-pointers to take a 20-point into the break against Saint Louis. The Billikens never got closer than 13 points in the second half as Davidson reached the Atlantic 10 title contest for the first time since 2018. The March Madness odds have the Wildcats as one of the higher-seeded teams out of conferences projected to get only one team into the field of 68.
With Atlantic 10 Player of the Year Luka Brajkovic held in check in the two tournament games, it has been scoring by committee.
Foster Loyer leads Davidson with 14.5 points in the two tournament games followed by Hyunjung Lee’s 13.5 points while Michael Jones (10.5) and Bajkovic (10.0) are other starters scoring in double figures. Grant Huffman (10.5) and Desmond Watson (8.5) have been chipping in with key points off the bench.
Davidson is 6-1 against the college basketball spreads in its last seven games.
Richmond Spiders vs Davidson Wildcats Head-to-Head
Davidson won the most recent matchup 87-84 at a 1½-point underdog on the road on January 14 on a Michael Jones 3-pointer with three seconds left to play.
Richmond won the previous three matchups and covered in each of the last four games in the series.
Something of interest to those who bet online, five of the last six games between the teams went over the total.
Richmond Spiders vs Davidson Wildcats Game Information
Game: Richmond (22-12) vs. Davidson (27-5)
Location: Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
Day/Time: Sunday, March 13, 1 p.m. ET
Television: CBS
Richmond Spiders vs Davidson Wildcats Betting Lines
<
Richmond Spiders vs Davidson Wildcats Prediction
Other than Davidson’s leading scorer Foster Loyer missing five games, both teams have been relatively healthy this season. Richmond’s top five scorers have played in every game while Davidson has six players who have appeared in all 31 of the Wildcats’ games.
Richmond leads the conference in both turnover margin and assist/turnover ratio and the Spiders will need to play a clean game to stay with the favored Wildcats.
Davidson leads the conference in field-goal percentage and 3-point field-goal percentage.
The total of 135½ seems a little on the low side based on what happened when the teams met in the regular season.
