Thursday, February 23, 2017

Chiles Center

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

The BYU Cougars travel to Chiles Center to play the Portland Pilots on Thursday, February 23, 2017. The opening line for this game has BYU as 10 point favorites.

The Cougars come into this game with an overall record of 19-10 and a road record of 3-4. They are 10-15 against the spread and their over/under record is 10-15. The Pilots have an overall record of 10-19 and a home record of 5-9. They have an over/under record of 8-17 and they are 12-14 against the spread.

For expert handicapping advice on this matchup and other NCAA basketball games check out our handicapping tips.

Eric Mika comes into this contest averaging 20 points per game while playing 28.1 minutes per night so far this season for the Cougars. He pulls down 9.3 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.6 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 52% while his free throw percentage is currently at 76%. TJ Haws averages 14.2 points per game in 31.2 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3.3 assists per contest and 2.9 rebounds per game for BYU. His field goal percentage is 43% for the year while his free throw percentage is 80%.

Gabe Taylor averages 11.3 points per game while playing 33.8 minutes per contest this year for the Pilots. He grabs 5.6 rebounds per game and has 0.8 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage currently is at 73%. Jazz Johnson averages 15.8 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 35.4 minutes per contest. He also averages 2.8 rebounds per contest and 2.3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 80%.

BYU averages 80.6 points per contest this season which ranks them 31st in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 7.9 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team which has them ranked 89th. Behind the arc they shoot 34% which is good for 228th in the country. They average 42.2 rebounds per game and 16 assists per game which ranks them 3rd and 35th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 214th with 13.6 per game. The Cougars allow 72.7 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 178th in the nation. They also allow a 40% shooting percentage and a 32% average from behind the arc ranking them 26th and 32nd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 36.8 rebounds a game which ranks 244th and they give up 14.2 assists per contest which puts them in 240th place in the country. They force 12.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 257th in Division 1.

Portland averages 64.6 points per game this year which ranks them 325th in Division 1 college basketball. Their average scoring margin is -7.9 and their shooting percentage is 41% as a team which has them sitting in the 315th spot in the country. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 136th in the nation. They average 33 rebounds per game and 9.5 assists per contest which ranks them 294th and 349th respectively. In the turnover department the Pilots rank 202nd with 13.4 per game. The Pilots allow 72.4 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 169th in the country. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc ranking them 128th and 208th in those defensive statistics. Opponents average 37.4 rebounds a game which ranks 277th and they give up 13.5 assists per contest which puts them in 200th place in the nation. The Pilots force 11.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 316th in college basketball.

The Cougars average 76.7 points per game on the road this season and they have scored 69 ppg in their past 3 contests. They have an average scoring differential of 1.5 on the road and in their past 3 games their difference is 5 per contest. The Cougars have an offensive rating of 106.1 and they assist on 57.8% of their shots. In terms of pace they average 75.9 possessions per 40 minutes and their effective field goal percentage is 51%. As a team they have a true shooting percentage of 55% and they shoot 3 pointers on 31% of their shots. BYU turns the ball over an average of 15.9 times per 100 possessions and they get a steal on 8.9% of their opponents possessions. Their total rebound percentage is 53.4% while their offensive rebound percentage is 27.8%. The Cougars give up 75.2 points per game on the road this season and they have surrendered 64 points per contest in their last 3 games.

The Pilots score 63.3 ppg at home and they have averaged 58.7 points per contest in their last 3 games.They have an average scoring differential of -10.3 in their past 3 contests and at home this season they have a difference of -8.5 points per game. The Pilots have a rating on offense of 97.1 and 44% of their shots are assisted. They possess the ball 67.9 times per 40 minutes and their effective field goal percentage for the year is 48%. As an offensive unit they have a true shooting percentage of 52% and they attempt 3 pointers on 33% of their shots. Portland turns it over an average of 17.3 times per 100 possessions and they steal the ball on 7.1% of their opponents possessions. Their total rebound percentage is 48.2% while their offensive rebound percentage for the season is 25%. The Pilots give up 71.8 points per contest at home this year and they have given up 69 points per game in their past 3 contests.

BYU Cougars Betting Trends

The BYU Cougars are 10-15 against the spread

The BYU Cougars are 10-15 against the over/under

Portland Pilots Betting Trends

The Portland Pilots are 12-14 against the spread

The Portland Pilots are 8-17 against the over/under

BYU Cougars Injuries

12/28/16 F Kyle Davis Knee out for season
02/08/17 G L.J. Rose Knee out indefinitely

Portland Pilots Injuries

02/10/17 F Joseph Smoyer Knee out for season
01/22/17 G Alec Wintering Knee out for season

Josh's Pick: Take Portland +10

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