Kent State at Xavier College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/6/2017

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Cintas Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Kent State Golden Flashes head to Cintas Center to take on the Xavier Musketeers on Wednesday, December 6, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Xavier as 23 point favorites.

Kent State heads into this matchup with a mark of 5-3. They currently have a point differential of 10.1 as they are averaging 78.1 points per contest while giving up 68.0 per game. Xavier has an overall mark of 7-1. They are averaging 89.0 points per contest and giving up 69.9, which is a point differential of 19.1.

Valuable Kent State Golden Flashes Betting Trends

The Kent State Golden Flashes are 2-2 against the spread this season

The Kent State Golden Flashes are 1-3 against the over/under this year

Important Xavier Musketeers Betting Trends

The Xavier Musketeers are 7-1 against the spread this season

The Xavier Musketeers are 6-2 against the over/under this year

Key Kent State Golden Flashes Injuries

12/02/17 G Jaylin Walker Ankle is "?"

Key Xavier Musketeers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Jaylin Walker averages 17.7 points per contest while playing 30.7 minutes per night this year. He grabs 2.2 rebounds per contest and distributes 2.7 assists per game. His FG percentage is 53% while his free throw percentage is 84%. Joey De La Rosa averages 14.1 points per contest in 20.8 minutes per game this year. He averages 1.1 assists per game and 8 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 64% for the season while his free throw percentage is 87%.

Player Spotlight

Trevon Bluiett scores 20.8 points per contest while playing 32.6 minutes per game this season. He hauls in 5.6 rebounds per contest and has 2.9 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 53% and his free throw percentage is at 87%. J.P. Macura averages 13.6 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 28.5 minutes per game. He also brings in 4.9 rebounds per game and has 3.3 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 55% and his free throw percentage is 83%.

Useful Team Statistics

Kent State averages 78.1 points per contest this year, which is 130th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 10.1 and their shooting percentage is 43% as a unit, which has them ranked 253rd. From 3-point territory they shoot 31%, which is good for 288th in Division 1. They average 39.3 boards per contest and 13.3 assists per game, which ranks them 77th and 219th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 292nd with 11.9 per game. The Golden Flashes allow 68.0 points per contest, which is 103rd in the country. They also surrender a 43% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 152nd and 182nd in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 35.1 rebounds a game which ranks 182nd, and they allow 12.6 assists per game which puts them in 152nd place in college basketball. They force 14.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 221st in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Xavier is 18th in the country with 89.0 points per contest this season. They are 2nd in the nation in shooting at 54%, while their average scoring margin is 19.1. They shoot 39% from beyond the arc, which is good for 55th in Division 1. They are 89th in the country in rebounding with 38.9 boards per contest and 27th in assists per game with 18.1. The Musketeers are 251st in turnovers per contest with 12.8. The Musketeers give up 69.9 points per game, which ranks them 137th in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 39% shooting percentage and a 30% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 42nd and 63rd in those defensive statistics. They rank 61st with 11.0 dimes allowed per game and 15th with 30.0 boards surrendered per contest. The Musketeers are 9th in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 10.8 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Golden Flashes are 99th in the country in defensive rating with 94.9, and their offensive rating of 109.1 is ranked 107th. They are 170th in college basketball in pace with 71.6 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 49% is 260th. As a unit they are 234th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shot attempts, ranking 154th in D-1. Kent State is 314th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 18.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 49%, which is 146th in the country.

Advanced Statistics

Xavier is 229th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 44%, which is 38th in the nation. The Musketeers are 4th in the country in offensive rating with 123.2, and their defensive rating of 96.7 is ranked 130th. In terms of pace they are 143rd in Division 1 with 72.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 61% is 6th. As a team they are 2nd in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 65% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 198th in the nation.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Kent State +23

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 Josh Schonwald