Vegas Play of the Day: VCU vs. Dayton in Atlantic 10 tournament championship

By Case Keefer (contact)

Sunday, March 15, 2015 | 2 a.m.

It’s one of the greatest sports days of the year — Selection Sunday.

The South Point-lined Play of the Day, which began with $10,000 starting bankrolls, must start it the right way by churning out a winner.

Dayton plus-2 vs. VCU: $330 to win $300

Connecticut. Butler. Michigan State.

That’s a short list of teams most people would caution betting against during college basketball’s postseason. An upstart Dayton might soon be joining the group.

Not only did coach Archie Miller memorably guide the Flyers to the Elite Eight last season as they went a perfect 4-0 against the spread in the NCAA Tournament, but he seems to have them peaking again. Dayton has won five of its last six, going 4-2 against the spread, including gritting past Rhode Island 56-52 yesterday in the Atlantic 10 conference semifinals.

The Flyers have worked their way through the bracket in Brooklyn with defensive tenacity and a physical mindset. It’s a more consistent formula on a game-to-game to basis than what VCU has employed.

The Rams have won and covered two straight in the conference tournament, against Richmond and Davidson, by shooting out of their minds. They’ve made 22 of 45 three-pointers, but are going to get a higher-caliber perimeter defense effort from the Flyers.

Just two weeks ago, Dayton went to VCU and imposed its pace in a 59-55 upset victory. VCU is a bankroll-burning 13-20 against the spread on the season and had dropped six straight versus the number before the conference tournament.

The Rams would be a bet-against even if they weren’t playing a convenient bet-on like the Flyers.

Standings: Keefer (70-68-2, $10,937), Bern (68-62-1, $9,846), Brewer (60-74-3, $2,415)

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.