Monmouth at Kentucky College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/9/2017

Saturday, December 9, 2017

Madison Square Garden

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Monmouth Hawks travel to Madison Square Garden to play the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday, December 9, 2017. The opening line for this game has Kentucky as 17 point favorites.

Monmouth comes into this game with an overall record of 3-6. They currently have a point differential of -3.7 as they are averaging 74.4 points per game while giving up 78.1 per contest. Kentucky has an overall record of 7-1. They are averaging 78.4 points per game and surrendering 66.3, good for a point differential of 12.1.

Valuable Monmouth Hawks Betting Trends

The Monmouth Hawks are 2-3 against the spread this season

The Monmouth Hawks are 3-2 against the over/under this year

Important Kentucky Wildcats Betting Trends

The Kentucky Wildcats are 3-5 against the spread this season

The Kentucky Wildcats are 3-5 against the over/under this year

Key Monmouth Hawks Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Kentucky Wildcats Injuries

11/22/17 F Jarred Vanderbilt Foot is out indefinitely
11/06/17 G Jemarl Baker Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Micah Seaborn averages 16.7 points per game while playing 27.7 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 4.1 rebounds per game and dishes out 2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 49% while his free throw percentage is at 83%. Austin Tilghman averages 9.7 points per game in 31 minutes per contest this season. He averages 4.3 assists per contest and 4.6 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 44% for the year while his free throw percentage is 68%.

Player Spotlight

Kevin Knox averages 16.6 points per game while playing 35.3 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 5.9 rebounds per game and has 1.6 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is at 70%. Hamidou Diallo averages 13.6 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 2.5 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 71%.

Useful Team Statistics

Monmouth averages 74.4 points per contest this season, which ranks them 197th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is -3.7 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 130th. Behind the arc they shoot 38%, which is good for 79th in the country. They average 37.9 rebounds per game and 10.8 assists per game, which ranks them 118th and 332nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 13th with 17.3 per game. The Hawks allow 78.1 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 284th in Division 1. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 158th and 198th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 37.2 rebounds a game which ranks 256th and they give up 12.6 assists per contest, which puts them in 143rd place in college basketball. They force 11.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 43rd in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Kentucky is 115th in the country with 78.4 points per game this year. They are 28th in D-1 in shooting at 50%, while their average scoring margin is 12.1. They shoot 34% from 3-point range, which is good for 200th in college basketball. They are 39th in the nation in rebounding with 40.9 boards per game, and 82nd in assists per contest with 15.9. The Wildcats are 78th in turnovers per game with 15.1. The Wildcats surrender 66.3 points per contest, which ranks them 67th in the country. Their defense allows a 38% shooting percentage and a 30% average from 3-point range, ranking them 31st and 51st in those defensive statistics. They rank 135th with 12.4 assists allowed per contest and 96th with 32.8 rebounds surrendered per game. The Wildcats are 119th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 13.3 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Hawks are 274th in the nation in offensive rating with 98.2, and their defensive rating of 103.1 is ranked 236th. In terms of pace they are 203rd in the country with 70.8 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 141st. As a team they are 159th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 242nd in Division 1. Monmouth is 19th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 20.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 49%, which is 157th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Kentucky is 94th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 45%, which is 36th in Division 1. The Wildcats are 53rd in the nation in defensive rating with 92, and their offensive rating of 108.9 is ranked 106th. They are 156th in D-1 in pace with 72 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 95th. As a unit they are 114th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 21% of their shot attempts, ranking 351st in the country.

Who will win tonight's Monmouth/Kentucky college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Kentucky -17

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