Duquesne Dukes vs VCU Rams Picks and Prediction for Friday March 13 2026
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The Duquesne Dukes face the VCU Rams in the Atlantic 10 Championship Quarterfinal on Friday, March 13, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:00 PM ET with television coverage on USA Network. VCU enters the game favored by 8.5 points. Be sure to check out our free college basketball picks for more daily predictions and betting insights.
Duquesne Looks to Build on Tournament Win
Duquesne enters the Atlantic 10 Championship Quarterfinal with an 18-14 overall record and a 9-9 mark in Atlantic 10 play. The Dukes advanced to this round after recently winning over Rhode Island 67-61 in the second round of the tournament. Over their last five games, Duquesne has recently won over Rhode Island and Richmond while recently losing to Rhode Island, Saint Louis, and Davidson.
On the season, Duquesne averages 79.1 points per game while allowing 75.3 points per contest. The Dukes shoot 46% from the field and average 35.0 rebounds and 15.3 assists per game. Defensively, Duquesne records 3.0 blocks and 7.8 steals per contest while relying on defensive pressure and transition opportunities to generate offense.
In their tournament win over Rhode Island, Alex Williams led the Dukes with 22 points while David Dixon controlled the glass with nine rebounds. Duquesne struggled shooting at just 37% from the field but compensated by forcing turnovers and winning the rebounding battle. With the Dukes coming off a physical game and facing a short turnaround, their ability to maintain defensive intensity will be key against a balanced VCU squad.
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VCU Fresh and Dangerous After Bye
VCU enters the Atlantic 10 Championship Quarterfinal with a 24-7 overall record and a 15-3 mark in Atlantic 10 play. The Rams earned a bye into the quarterfinal round after finishing near the top of the conference standings. Over their last five games, VCU has recently won over Dayton, George Mason, Fordham, and George Washington while recently losing to Saint Louis.
On the season, VCU averages 82.4 points per game while allowing 72.2 points per contest. The Rams shoot 46% from the field and average 36.9 rebounds and 14.2 assists per game. Defensively, VCU contributes 4.4 blocks and 7.4 steals per game while frequently using defensive pressure to disrupt opposing offenses.
In their most recent game, a 68-62 win over Dayton, Lazar Djokovic led the Rams with 16 points while Brandon Jennings led the team with seven rebounds and added four assists. VCU shot an efficient 49% from the field and limited Dayton to just 18% shooting from three-point range. With the added rest from the bye and their strong defensive presence, the Rams enter this matchup with momentum.
Duquesne vs VCU Pick
Duquesne vs VCU Spread Pick
- Pick: VCU -8.5
VCU enters this matchup with the advantage in overall record, defensive efficiency, and rest after receiving a bye into the quarterfinals. Duquesne is coming off a physical win over Rhode Island and now faces a quick turnaround against one of the conference’s most balanced teams. With VCU’s ability to defend the perimeter and control tempo, the Rams should be able to gradually pull away and cover the spread.
Duquesne vs VCU Total Pick
- Pick: Over 152.5
I like the over in this matchup because both teams have shown the ability to score efficiently throughout the season. VCU averages over 82 points per game while Duquesne averages just over 79, and both teams are capable of generating transition opportunities through defensive pressure. If the game pace increases and both teams find rhythm offensively, this total has a good chance to go over.
Final Score Prediction: VCU 84, Duquesne 74
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