North Dakota at Gonzaga College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/16/2017

Saturday, December 16, 2017

McCarthey Athletic Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The North Dakota Fighting Hawks travel to McCarthey Athletic Center to play the Gonzaga Bulldogs on Saturday, December 16, 2017. The opening line for this game has Gonzaga as 26.5 point favorites.

North Dakota heads into this matchup with a mark of 4-6. They currently have a point differential of -7.1 as they are averaging 75.7 points per contest while giving up 82.8 per game. Gonzaga has an overall mark of 8-2. They are averaging 91.2 points per contest and giving up 74.5, which is a point differential of 16.7.

Valuable North Dakota Fighting Hawks Betting Trends

The North Dakota Fighting Hawks are 2-5 against the spread this season

The North Dakota Fighting Hawks are 6-1 against the over/under this year

Important Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Trends

The Gonzaga Bulldogs are 4-3 against the spread this season

The Gonzaga Bulldogs are 5-2 against the over/under this year

Key North Dakota Fighting Hawks Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Gonzaga Bulldogs Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Geno Crandall averages 16.5 points per game while playing 33.9 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 4.9 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.5 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 54% while his free throw percentage is at 76%. Marlon Stewart averages 13.7 points per game in 28.9 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3 assists per contest and 3.3 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 46% for the year while his free throw percentage is 72%.

Player Spotlight

Johnathan Williams averages 15.5 points per game while playing 28.5 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 6.7 rebounds per game and has 2 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 54% and his free throw percentage is at 59%. Josh Perkins averages 14.4 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 31.9 minutes per contest. He also averages 3.8 rebounds per contest and 4.8 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is 79%.

Useful Team Statistics

North Dakota averages 75.7 points per contest this season, which ranks them 173rd in the nation. Their average scoring margin is -7.1 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a team, which has them ranked 239th. Behind the arc they shoot 26%, which is good for 349th in the country. They average 33.7 rebounds per game and 12.3 assists per game, which ranks them 279th and 282nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 234th with 12.9 per game. The Fighting Hawks allow 82.8 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 331st in Division 1. They also allow a 50% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 344th and 263rd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 39.3 rebounds a game which ranks 315th and they give up 13.8 assists per contest, which puts them in 217th place in college basketball. They force 15.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 256th in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Gonzaga is 6th in the country with 91.2 points per game this year. They are 18th in D-1 in shooting at 51%, while their average scoring margin is 16.7. They shoot 38% from 3-point range, which is good for 70th in college basketball. They are 33rd in the nation in rebounding with 40.8 boards per game, and 26th in assists per contest with 17.7. The Bulldogs are 200th in turnovers per game with 13.3. The Bulldogs surrender 74.5 points per contest, which ranks them 226th in the country. Their defense allows a 41% shooting percentage and a 39% average from 3-point range, ranking them 90th and 321st in those defensive statistics. They rank 168th with 12.9 assists allowed per contest and 89th with 32.7 rebounds surrendered per game. The Bulldogs are 167th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 13.9 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Fighting Hawks are 285th in the country in defensive rating with 107.5, and their offensive rating of 98.3 is ranked 284th. They are 24th in college basketball in pace with 76 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 48% is 284th. As a unit they are 291st in the nation in true shooting percentage with 52% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 243rd in D-1. North Dakota is 273rd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17.7 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 56%, which is 322nd in the country.

Advanced Statistics

Gonzaga is 257th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.3 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 49%, which is 139th in the nation. The Bulldogs are 8th in the country in offensive rating with 121.3, and their defensive rating of 99.1 is ranked 164th. In terms of pace they are 123rd in Division 1 with 72.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 59% is 14th. As a team they are 12th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 61% and they shoot 3-pointers on 41% of their shots, ranking 100th in the nation.

Who will win tonight's North Dakota/Gonzaga college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Gonzaga -26.5

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