Virginia Commonwealth at Butler

It is hard to believe that this year’s Final Four is comprised of a pair of teams squaring off from non-power conferences. It ensures that once again the Final will be played with a mid-major having an opportunity to cut down the nets. What is more remarkable is that VCU would not even be in the tournament if not for a four-team expansion this year, as any preceding year they would of been on the list of the last four out. It has been an amazing run for the Rams. They have been playing way over their heads, making it remarkable what they have done. The Rams did not connect on more than 11 from beyond the arc in any game this season and in the big dance, they have connected on 12 or more on three different occasions in just five games. That is a pace hard to sustain. Butler may be from a mid-major, but they have one of the best coaches in the game in Brad Stevens. He brought Butler to a Final Four a year ago and missed by a bucket against Duke from cutting down the nets. Their best player, Gordon Hayward, is gone and yet Stevens molds a team into another National Championship contender. The Rams have been very good in this tournament, but the Bulldogs have been very good for a longtime, resulting in a remarkable 21-4-2 ATS mark vs. teams with a winning percentage over .600. They are also 17-5 ATS in their last 22 NCAA Tournament games. There is one big difference here and that is the Rams had to play way over their heads to get here, while Butler had to play like Butler to get here. Big difference. The bubble bursts here, so lay the points and play on Butler.