Houston at South Florida College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/28/2017

Thursday, December 28, 2017

USF Sun Dome

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Houston Cougars travel to USF Sun Dome to play the South Florida Bulls on Thursday, December 28, 2017. The opening line for this game has Houston as 15.5 point favorites.

Houston comes into this game with an overall record of 10-2. They currently have a point differential of 14.5 as they are averaging 81.2 points per game while giving up 66.7 per contest. South Florida has an overall record of 7-6. They are averaging 66.0 points per game and surrendering 66.5, good for a point differential of -0.5.

Valuable Houston Cougars Betting Trends

The Houston Cougars are 5-3 against the spread this season

The Houston Cougars are 3-5 against the over/under this year

Important South Florida Bulls Betting Trends

The South Florida Bulls are 4-5 against the spread this season

The South Florida Bulls are 3-6 against the over/under this year

Key Houston Cougars Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key South Florida Bulls Injuries

12/01/17 G David Collins Knee is out indefinitely
11/05/17 G Troy Holston Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Robert Gray Jr. averages 20.7 points per game while playing 30.2 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 3.2 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.7 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 41% while his free throw percentage is at 85%. Devin Davis averages 12 points per game in 28.4 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.7 assists per contest and 7.5 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 48% for the year while his free throw percentage is 59%.

Player Spotlight

Payton Banks averages 13.7 points per game while playing 30.1 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 4.2 rebounds per game and has 1.4 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is at 84%. Stephen Jiggets averages 12.5 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 33.4 minutes per contest. He also averages 2.4 rebounds per contest and 3.9 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 39% and his free throw percentage is 93%.

Useful Team Statistics

Houston averages 81.2 points per contest this season, which ranks them 66th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 14.5 and their shooting percentage is 49% as a team, which has them ranked 47th. Behind the arc they shoot 42%, which is good for 10th in the country. They average 39.3 rebounds per game and 15.5 assists per game, which ranks them 60th and 95th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 159th with 13.8 per game. The Cougars allow 66.7 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 72nd in Division 1. They also allow a 40% shooting percentage and a 32% average from behind the arc, ranking them 49th and 72nd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 30.8 rebounds a game which ranks 26th and they give up 10.7 assists per contest, which puts them in 31st place in college basketball. They force 14.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 230th in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

South Florida is 325th in the country with 66.0 points per game this year. They are 251st in D-1 in shooting at 43%, while their average scoring margin is -0.5. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 165th in college basketball. They are 164th in the nation in rebounding with 36.5 boards per game, and 220th in assists per contest with 13.4. The Bulls are 120th in turnovers per game with 14.3. The Bulls surrender 66.5 points per contest, which ranks them 71st in the country. Their defense allows a 41% shooting percentage and a 30% average from 3-point range, ranking them 88th and 35th in those defensive statistics. They rank 193rd with 13.4 assists allowed per contest and 137th with 34.0 rebounds surrendered per game. The Bulls are 25th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 11.4 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Cougars are 36th in the nation in offensive rating with 114.6, and their defensive rating of 94.1 is ranked 66th. In terms of pace they are 175th in the country with 70.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 56% is 43rd. As a team they are 47th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 219th in Division 1. Houston is 154th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 18.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 46%, which is 52nd in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

South Florida is 48th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 18.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.5 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 47%, which is 67th in Division 1. The Bulls are 163rd in the nation in defensive rating with 99.3, and their offensive rating of 98.5 is ranked 282nd. They are 338th in D-1 in pace with 66.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 49% is 262nd. As a unit they are 252nd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shot attempts, ranking 294th in the country.

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

Josh's Pick: Take South Florida +15.5

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