Colorado at Xavier College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/9/2017

Saturday, December 9, 2017

Cintas Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Colorado Buffaloes travel to Cintas Center to play the Xavier Musketeers on Saturday, December 9, 2017. The opening line for this game has Xavier as 15 point favorites.

Colorado comes into this game with an overall record of 7-1. They currently have a point differential of 9.8 as they are averaging 76.1 points per game while giving up 66.4 per contest. Xavier has an overall record of 8-1. They are averaging 89.8 points per game and surrendering 69.9, good for a point differential of 19.9.

Valuable Colorado Buffaloes Betting Trends

The Colorado Buffaloes are 4-3 against the spread this season

The Colorado Buffaloes are 4-4 against the over/under this year

Important Xavier Musketeers Betting Trends

The Xavier Musketeers are 8-1 against the spread this season

The Xavier Musketeers are 7-2 against the over/under this year

Key Colorado Buffaloes Injuries

12/02/17 F Tory Miller-Stewart Foot is out for season
11/05/17 F Evan Battey Academics is out for season

Key Xavier Musketeers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

George King averages 14.4 points per game in 26.8 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.1 assists per contest and 8.9 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 53% for the year while his free throw percentage is 73%. McKinley Wright IV averages 15.6 points per game while playing 32 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 5.5 rebounds per game and dishes out 4.1 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 54% while his free throw percentage is at 73%.

Player Spotlight

J.P. Macura averages 12.6 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 27.6 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.8 rebounds per contest and 3.4 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 53% and his free throw percentage is 85%. Trevon Bluiett averages 21.3 points per game while playing 32.1 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 5.2 rebounds per game and has 2.8 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 54% and his free throw percentage is at 88%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Buffaloes allow 66.4 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 69th in the nation. They also allow a 39% shooting percentage and a 32% average from behind the arc, ranking them 37th and 105th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 32.0 rebounds a game which ranks 59th, and they give up 10.4 assists per contest, which puts them in 31st place in the country. They force 11.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 37th in college basketball. Colorado averages 76.1 points per contest this season, which ranks them 163rd in Division 1. Their average scoring margin is 9.8 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 71st. Behind the arc they shoot 34% which is good for 204th in D-1. They average 40.9 rebounds per game and 12.8 assists per game, which ranks them 38th and 250th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 94th with 14.9 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Musketeers surrender 69.9 points per contest, which ranks them 133rd in the country. Their defense allows a 39% shooting percentage and a 30% average from 3-point range, ranking them 41st and 63rd in those defensive statistics. They rank 74th with 11.3 assists allowed per contest, and 11th with 29.7 rebounds surrendered per game. The Musketeers are 15th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 10.9 per game this season. Xavier is 13th in Division 1 with 89.8 points per game this year. They are 2nd in the country in shooting at 54%, while their average scoring margin is 19.9. They shoot 39% from 3-point range, which is good for 71st in the nation. They are 82nd in college basketball in rebounding with 38.9 boards per game and 19th in assists per contest with 18.4. The Musketeers are 273rd in turnovers per game with 12.3.

Advanced Statistics

The Buffaloes are 149th in the nation in offensive rating with 106.8, and their defensive rating of 93.2 is ranked 67th. In terms of pace they are 185th in the country with 71.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 93rd. As a team they are 99th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 231st in Division 1. Colorado is 83rd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 18.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 45%, which is 44th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Xavier is 264th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 45%, which is 39th in the nation. The Musketeers are 3rd in the country in offensive rating with 124.5, and their defensive rating of 96.9 is ranked 126th. In terms of pace they are 150th in Division 1 with 72.1 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 61% is 5th. As a team they are 2nd in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 65% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 230th in the nation.

Who will win tonight's Colorado/Xavier college basketball game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Xavier -15

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Guy Bruhn