Arkansas at Houston College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/2/2017

Saturday, December 2, 2017

H&PE Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Arkansas Razorbacks travel to H&PE Arena to play the Houston Cougars on Saturday, December 2, 2017. The opening line for this game has Arkansas as 2.5 point favorites.

Arkansas heads into this matchup with a mark of 5-1. They currently have a point differential of 16.7 as they are averaging 90.2 points per contest while giving up 73.5 per game. Houston has an overall mark of 5-1. They are averaging 79.8 points per contest and giving up 66.7, which is a point differential of 13.2.

Valuable Arkansas Razorbacks Betting Trends

The Arkansas Razorbacks are 4-2 against the spread this season

The Arkansas Razorbacks are 4-2 against the over/under this year

Important Houston Cougars Betting Trends

The Houston Cougars are 1-2 against the spread this season

The Houston Cougars are 1-2 against the over/under this year

Key Arkansas Razorbacks Injuries

11/08/17 F Dustin Thomas Suspension is out indefinitely
11/05/17 F Arlando Cook Suspension is out indefinitely
11/05/17 G Khalil Garland Medical is out indefinitely

Key Houston Cougars Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Daryl Macon averages 16.3 points per game in 29.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3 assists per contest and 2.7 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 45% for the year while his free throw percentage is 91%. Jaylen Barford averages 20.8 points per game while playing 30 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 4.2 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.3 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 51% while his free throw percentage is at 69%.

Player Spotlight

Wes VanBeck averages 13.2 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 28.2 minutes per contest. He also averages 4 rebounds per contest and 1.5 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 76%. Robert Gray Jr. averages 23.6 points per game while playing 32.6 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 2 rebounds per game and has 4.6 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 51% and his free throw percentage is at 89%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Razorbacks allow 73.5 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 205th in the nation. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the arc, ranking them 164th and 166th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 34.0 rebounds a game which ranks 137th, and they give up 13.0 assists per contest, which puts them in 172nd place in the country. They force 16.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 303rd in college basketball. Arkansas averages 90.2 points per contest this season, which ranks them 14th in Division 1. Their average scoring margin is 16.7 and their shooting percentage is 50% as a team, which has them ranked 43rd. Behind the arc they shoot 42% which is good for 29th in D-1. They average 37.2 rebounds per game and 15.8 assists per game, which ranks them 164th and 90th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 262nd with 12.3 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Cougars surrender 66.7 points per contest, which ranks them 80th in the country. Their defense allows a 40% shooting percentage and a 32% average from 3-point range, ranking them 72nd and 110th in those defensive statistics. They rank 40th with 10.5 assists allowed per contest, and 40th with 31.2 rebounds surrendered per game. The Cougars are 255th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 15.7 per game this season. Houston is 107th in Division 1 with 79.8 points per game this year. They are 76th in the country in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 13.2. They shoot 39% from 3-point range, which is good for 64th in the nation. They are 52nd in college basketball in rebounding with 40.5 boards per game and 63rd in assists per contest with 16.5. The Cougars are 198th in turnovers per game with 13.3.

Advanced Statistics

The Razorbacks are 34th in the nation in offensive rating with 115.6, and their defensive rating of 94.2 is ranked 93rd. In terms of pace they are 19th in the country with 78 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 56% is 61st. As a team they are 49th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 30% of their shots, ranking 305th in Division 1. Arkansas is 310th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 19 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 49%, which is 161st in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Houston is 206th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 19.5 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 47%, which is 87th in Division 1. The Cougars are 108th in the nation in defensive rating with 95, and their offensive rating of 113.8 is ranked 54th. They are 234th in D-1 in pace with 70.2 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 55% is 80th. As a unit they are 113th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 223rd in the country.

Who will win tonight's Arkansas/Houston college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Houston +2.5

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