Alabama at Arizona College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/9/2017

Saturday, December 9, 2017

McKale Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Alabama Crimson Tide head to McKale Center to take on the Arizona Wildcats on Saturday, December 9, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Arizona as 8 point favorites.

Alabama comes into this game with an overall record of 7-2. They currently have a point differential of 9.2 as they are averaging 79.0 points per game while giving up 69.8 per contest. Arizona has an overall mark of 6-3. They are averaging 83.6 points per contest and giving up 73.0, which is a point differential of 10.6.

Valuable Alabama Crimson Tide Betting Trends

The Alabama Crimson Tide are 3-4 against the spread this season

The Alabama Crimson Tide are 3-5 against the over/under this year

Important Arizona Wildcats Betting Trends

The Arizona Wildcats are 3-6 against the spread this season

The Arizona Wildcats are 5-3 against the over/under this year

Key Alabama Crimson Tide Injuries

12/08/17 F Braxton Key Knee is upgraded to "?" Saturday vs Arizona
11/09/17 G Ar'Mond Davis Knee is out indefinitely

Key Arizona Wildcats Injuries

12/08/17 G Emmanuel Akot Knee is "?" Saturday vs Alabama
11/05/17 G Rawle Alkins Foot is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Collin Sexton averages 20.8 points per contest while playing 29 minutes per night this year. He grabs 4 rebounds per contest and distributes 3.5 assists per game. His FG percentage is 56% while his free throw percentage is 72%. John Petty averages 12.2 points per contest in 29.2 minutes per game this year. He averages 2 assists per game and 2.3 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 44% for the season while his free throw percentage is 46%.

Player Spotlight

Allonzo Trier scores 22 points per contest while playing 33.3 minutes per game this season. He hauls in 3.4 rebounds per contest and has 2.7 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 56% and his free throw percentage is at 79%. DeAndre Ayton averages 19.6 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 31.3 minutes per game. He also brings in 11.2 rebounds per game and has 1.7 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 60% and his free throw percentage is 72%.

Useful Team Statistics

Alabama averages 79.0 points per contest this year, which is 108th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 9.2 and their shooting percentage is 50% as a unit, which has them ranked 31st. From 3-point territory they shoot 37%, which is good for 94th in Division 1. They average 38.0 boards per contest and 13.9 assists per game, which ranks them 114th and 183rd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 75th with 15.2 per game. The Crimson Tide allow 69.8 points per contest, which is 130th in the country. They also surrender a 41% shooting percentage and a 32% average from 3-point range, ranking them 79th and 113th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 35.3 rebounds a game which ranks 194th, and they allow 11.9 assists per game which puts them in 103rd place in college basketball. They force 14.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 191st in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Arizona is 47th in the country with 83.6 points per contest this season. They are 12th in the nation in shooting at 51%, while their average scoring margin is 10.6. They shoot 37% from beyond the arc, which is good for 107th in Division 1. They are 178th in the country in rebounding with 36.4 boards per contest and 92nd in assists per game with 15.6. The Wildcats are 241st in turnovers per contest with 12.8. The Wildcats give up 73.0 points per game, which ranks them 202nd in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 44% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 200th and 218th in those defensive statistics. They rank 226th with 14.0 dimes allowed per game and 26th with 30.7 boards surrendered per contest. The Wildcats are 115th in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 13.2 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Crimson Tide are 153rd in the nation in offensive rating with 106.6, and their defensive rating of 94.2 is ranked 80th. In terms of pace they are 62nd in the country with 74.1 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 56% is 45th. As a team they are 62nd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shots, ranking 277th in Division 1. Alabama is 77th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 18.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.6 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 46%, which is 57th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Arizona is 224th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 160th in Division 1. The Wildcats are 209th in the nation in defensive rating with 101.5, and their offensive rating of 116.2 is ranked 28th. They are 196th in D-1 in pace with 70.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 58% is 25th. As a unit they are 17th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 61% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shot attempts, ranking 263rd in the country.

Who will win tonight's Alabama/Arizona college basketball game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Alabama +8

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