Houston at Saint Louis College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/9/2017

Saturday, December 9, 2017

Chaifetz Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Houston Cougars head to Chaifetz Arena to take on the Saint Louis Billikens on Saturday, December 9, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Houston as 7 point favorites.

Houston comes into this game with an overall record of 7-1. They currently have a point differential of 15.9 as they are averaging 82.3 points per game while giving up 66.4 per contest. Saint Louis has an overall mark of 4-4. They are averaging 64.5 points per contest and giving up 67.3, which is a point differential of -2.8.

Valuable Houston Cougars Betting Trends

The Houston Cougars are 3-2 against the spread this season

The Houston Cougars are 2-3 against the over/under this year

Important Saint Louis Billikens Betting Trends

The Saint Louis Billikens are 2-4 against the spread this season

The Saint Louis Billikens are 3-3 against the over/under this year

Key Houston Cougars Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Saint Louis Billikens Injuries

11/27/17 G Ty Graves Eligibility is out indefinitely
11/16/17 G Adonys Henriquez Undisclosed is out indefinitely
11/16/17 G Jermaine Bishop Undisclosed is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Robert Gray Jr. averages 21.3 points per contest while playing 30.3 minutes per night this year. He grabs 2.6 rebounds per contest and distributes 3.9 assists per game. His FG percentage is 43% while his free throw percentage is 89%. Devin Davis averages 12.6 points per contest in 27.8 minutes per game this year. He averages 2 assists per game and 7.9 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 49% for the season while his free throw percentage is 55%.

Player Spotlight

Javon Bess scores 14.5 points per contest while playing 35.5 minutes per game this season. He hauls in 6.3 rebounds per contest and has 2 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is at 81%. Jordan Goodwin averages 10.6 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 34 minutes per game. He also brings in 7.1 rebounds per game and has 4 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 32% and his free throw percentage is 68%.

Useful Team Statistics

Houston averages 82.3 points per contest this year, which is 64th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 15.9 and their shooting percentage is 49% as a unit, which has them ranked 37th. From 3-point territory they shoot 43%, which is good for 9th in Division 1. They average 40.1 boards per contest and 16.8 assists per game, which ranks them 51st and 48th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 168th with 13.8 per game. The Cougars allow 66.4 points per contest, which is 70th in the country. They also surrender a 39% shooting percentage and a 31% average from 3-point range, ranking them 52nd and 81st in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 30.5 rebounds a game which ranks 24th, and they allow 9.8 assists per game which puts them in 16th place in college basketball. They force 15.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 249th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Saint Louis is 330th in the country with 64.5 points per contest this season. They are 316th in the nation in shooting at 41%, while their average scoring margin is -2.8. They shoot 26% from beyond the arc, which is good for 345th in Division 1. They are 241st in the country in rebounding with 34.8 boards per contest and 285th in assists per game with 12.1. The Billikens are 212th in turnovers per contest with 13.1. The Billikens give up 67.3 points per game, which ranks them 84th in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 44% shooting percentage and a 39% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 180th and 299th in those defensive statistics. They rank 215th with 13.8 dimes allowed per game and 108th with 33.3 boards surrendered per contest. The Billikens are 153rd in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 13.8 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Cougars are 36th in the nation in offensive rating with 115.4, and their defensive rating of 93.2 is ranked 69th. In terms of pace they are 187th in the country with 71.2 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 57% is 37th. As a team they are 43rd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 244th in Division 1. Houston is 181st in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 19 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 46%, which is 60th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Saint Louis is 159th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 18.3 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 209th in the nation. The Billikens are 296th in the country in offensive rating with 97, and their defensive rating of 101.1 is ranked 202nd. In terms of pace they are 332nd in Division 1 with 66.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 45% is 330th. As a team they are 316th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 50% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 207th in the nation.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Houston -7

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