Cincinnati vs. VCU: College Basketball Game Preview, Prediction, TV Schedule

TV Schedule: Saturday, Dec. 19, 4:00 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network

Arena: Stuart Siegel Center, Richmond, VA

 

The Cincinnati Bearcats failed to defeat their in-city rivals, the Xavier Musketeers, but still look like one of the better teams in the American Athletic Conference and should feel confident in their 2016 NCAA tournament chances. Better than a team feeling confident, however, is winning games against potential NCAA tournament-bound teams and being certain that they will make the Big Dance.

The Bearcats will have that opportunity on Saturday afternoon, as they travel to Richmond, Virginia, to face off with the VCU Rams.

Although the Rams sit at a disappointing 5-4 record, VCU boasts wins over the MTSU Blue Raiders and the Old Dominion Monarchs, two of the best teams in Conference USA. Three of their four losses were by a total of 14 points to expected NCAA tournament teams, and one of these was just an eight point loss to the Duke Blue Devils. Will Wade has done a decent job for the Rams since taking Shaka Smart’s position as head coach, but VCU is experiencing the growing pains we expected for this team coming into the season.

The Rams have a legitimate opportunity to turn their season around with a win over the Bearcats. Cincinnati will be one of the best teams in the AAC this season, and a victory, even at home, could be just what this team needs to get over the hump. Remember, Cincinnati has played just two true-road games this season and one of them was a loss.

That being said, the Bearcats are an extremely talented team. Eight different players play at least eleven minutes per game, and any one of them can show out on any given night. The Rams’ Melvin Johnson is one of the best players in the country, but he has yet to face a defense as talented as Cincinnati’s this season. I like both of these teams to make the 2016 NCAA tournament, but count on the Bearcats to win on the road in a tight one.

Prediction: Cincinnati 62, VCU 59

Taylor Sturm is a Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TSturmRS, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.