Dayton Still A-10 Betting Favorite; Richmond, VCU Also in Mix
2024 A-10 Basketball Futures Odds: Richmond (+150) Makes Big Leap
Dayton has been as good as advertised, solidifying itself as the favorite to win the A-10 Conference in men’s basketball. But the Flyers won’t exactly be coasting to the regular-season league title. Richmond, VCU and Loyola Chicago are among those keeping the heat on the Flyers.
Let’s take a closer look at the standings as we break down the updated 2024 A-10 basketball futures odds.
THE FAVORITE
Dayton (-160)
No. 18 Dayton has lived up to expectations as the A-10 preseason favorite. The Flyers are off to a sparkling 19-3 start (9-1 A-10) with wins over potential NCAA Tournament teams in St. John’s and Cincinnati. As such, they’re a projected No. 4 seed in Joe Lunardi’s latest bracketology for ESPN, as their odds of winning the A-10 have climbed from +290 to -160.
Dayton also checks in at No. 23 in KenPom, and it’s inside the top 15 in adjusted offensive efficiency. It’s averaging 75 points per game, with a bulk of that scoring coming from the perimeter. The Flyers are one of five teams shooting at least 40% on 3-point attempts.
Six of Dayton’s nine conference wins have come by double digits, and it has a plus-10 point differential for the season.
Dayton is 12-9-1 ATS, including 4-2 in its last six games.
TOP CONTENDER
Richmond (+150)
Richmond has made arguably the A-10’s biggest leap since the preseason, going from +2000 to +150 on the 2024 A-10 basketball futures oddsboard. The Spiders are 16-6 (8-1) and hold a signature win over Dayton.
Saturday’s loss to VCU snapped an 11-game winning streak and wiped out any chance of the Spiders sneaking into the Top 25. Meanwhile, Lunardi projects Richmond as a No. 12 seed, one of the final teams in the field of 68.
Despite its hot start, skepticism remains about Richmond being a legitimate contender. It’s ranked just 82nd in KenPom and 154th in adjusted offensive efficiency. Guard Jordan King, playing for his third different school in four seasons, is averaging a team-high 19.1 points on 43% shooting from 3.
Richmond’s 16 wins ATS are tied for third-most in the country, behind only Minnesota (19) and South Carolina (17).
NEXT IN LINE
Loyola Chicago (+1200)
After a rough second season under Drew Valentine, Loyola Chicago has rebounded with authority. The Ramblers own the third-best record in the A-10 at 8-2 and are 16-7 overall. Despite that, their 2024 A-10 basketball futures odds have dropped to +1200 from the opening line of +900.
Loyola Chicago has won three straight and six of its last seven, with its lone loss during that stretch coming at VCU. Given that the Ramblers have only one top 100 KenPom win (Boston College) in non-conference play, they’ll likely need to win the A-10 Tournament to find their way into the Big Dance.
The Ramblers are 58th in adjusted defensive efficiency but rank just 192nd on the other end of the floor. They’re averaging 73.9 points, led by Davidson transfer Desmond Watson (13.3). Forward Philip Alston is the only other Rambler currently in double figures (12.7).
Loyola Chicago is just 11-11 ATS but has covered in eight of its last 11 games.
VCU (+1500)
VCU has dropped to +1500 after coming into the season with the second-best conference odds (+400). They’ve won seven of eight since starting 0-2 in A-10 play and are 15-8 overall (7-3).
The Rams have already beaten Richmond and Loyola Chicago, and they host No. 18 Dayton on Friday. They also have road games remaining at Richmond and Dayton, so there is an opportunity to climb the standings.
VCU is No. 84 in KenPom despite being ranked 113th in adjusted offensive efficiency. It’s fared far better on the other end of the floor, where it’s 59th. The Rams are averaging 72.4 points, led by Utah State transfer Max Shulga at 15.1 per game.
The Rams have been especially profitable of late on the NCAA basketball scoreboard, covering seven of their last eight. They’re 13-8-2 ATS on the season.
BEST OF THE REST
St. Bonaventure (+20000)
St. Bonaventure opened +650 to win the A-10, the third-shortest odds on the board, but has since fallen to +20000. The Bonnies (14-8) are just 5-5 in conference play, though they showed their potential in a home victory over VCU.
The Bonnies likely would need to win out to have any shot at the A-10 title, and even that might not be enough. They have only one game left against the teams ahead of them (Loyola Chicago on Feb. 27), so the opportunity to make up ground is slim.
St. Bonaventure has covered in four straight games and is 12-9-1 ATS.
St. Joseph’s (+25000)
St. Joseph’s (15-8, 5-5) is coming off a 94-79 loss to Dayton on Tuesday. It’s played better since an 0-3 start to A-10 play but is still searching for consistency.
The Hawks’ best wins came over rival Villanova in the Big 5 Classic and Princeton.
St. Joseph’s is balanced offensively, with five scorers averaging double figures in scoring. But it’s ranked just 149th in adjusted defensive efficiency.
The Hawks are 13-10 ATS but have failed to cover in seven of their last 10 games.
UMass (+25000)
UMass (14-8, 5-5) is 10-2 at home but has just one victory on the road. Arguably, its best win came in non-conference play against Quinnipiac.
St. Francis (Pa.) forward Josh Cohen has been a solid addition. The 6-foot-10 forward is averaging a team-high 16.3 points on 54.7% shooting to go with 6.7 rebounds. Forward Matt Cross (15.7 PPG, 8.1 RPG) has been a solid contributor as well.
UMass has been solid ATS at 14-8.
REMAINING TEAMS
George Mason (+50000), Duquesne (+50000), Rhode Island (+80000), George Washington (+100000), LaSalle (+100000), Davidson (+100000), St. Louis (+100000), Fordham (+100000).
For college basketball betting lines, analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
