Northern Illinois at Iowa College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/29/2017

Friday, December 29, 2017

Carver-Hawkeye Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Northern Illinois Huskies travel to Carver-Hawkeye Arena to play the Iowa Hawkeyes on Friday, December 29, 2017. The opening line for this game has Iowa as 15 point favorites.

Northern Illinois heads into this matchup with a mark of 7-5. They currently have a point differential of 4.6 as they are averaging 76.2 points per contest while giving up 71.6 per game. Iowa has an overall record of 8-6. They are averaging 80.9 points per game and surrendering 72.6, good for a point differential of 8.3.

Valuable Northern Illinois Huskies Betting Trends

The Northern Illinois Huskies are 5-3 against the spread this season

The Northern Illinois Huskies are 4-4 against the over/under this year

Important Iowa Hawkeyes Betting Trends

The Iowa Hawkeyes are 4-4 against the spread this season

The Iowa Hawkeyes are 5-5 against the over/under this year

Key Northern Illinois Huskies Injuries

11/14/17 F Jaylen Key Shoulder is out indefinitely

Key Iowa Hawkeyes Injuries

12/28/17 F Ahmad Wagner Ankle is "?" Friday vs No Illinois
12/28/17 G Connor McCaffery Throat is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Eugene German averages 19.8 points per game while playing 29.1 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 3.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 58% while his free throw percentage is at 70%. Levi Bradley averages 14.8 points per game in 29.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 0.5 assists per contest and 5.9 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 45% for the year while his free throw percentage is 84%.

Player Spotlight

Tyler Cook averages 13.7 points per game while playing 24.9 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 6.6 rebounds per game and has 1.5 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 58% and his free throw percentage is at 69%. Jordan Bohannon averages 12.1 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 29.3 minutes per contest. He also averages 2.4 rebounds per contest and 4.6 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is 81%.

Useful Team Statistics

Northern Illinois averages 76.2 points per contest this season, which ranks them 150th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 4.6 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a team, which has them ranked 108th. Behind the arc they shoot 36%, which is good for 149th in the country. They average 35.8 rebounds per game and 11.3 assists per game, which ranks them 200th and 320th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 307th with 11.8 per game. The Huskies allow 71.6 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 171st in Division 1. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 189th and 255th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 37.0 rebounds a game which ranks 267th and they give up 13.6 assists per contest, which puts them in 196th place in college basketball. They force 15.0 turnovers per game which ranks them 243rd in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Iowa is 67th in the country with 80.9 points per game this year. They are 68th in D-1 in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 8.3. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 122nd in college basketball. They are 12th in the nation in rebounding with 41.9 boards per game, and 13th in assists per contest with 18.7. The Hawkeyes are 122nd in turnovers per game with 14.3. The Hawkeyes surrender 72.6 points per contest, which ranks them 197th in the country. Their defense allows a 42% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 110th and 94th in those defensive statistics. They rank 241st with 14.1 assists allowed per contest and 148th with 34.4 rebounds surrendered per game. The Hawkeyes are 79th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 12.5 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Huskies are 146th in the nation in offensive rating with 106.5, and their defensive rating of 100.1 is ranked 176th. In terms of pace they are 150th in the country with 71.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 195th. As a team they are 191st in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 27% of their shots, ranking 338th in Division 1. Northern Illinois is 307th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 18.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 202nd in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Iowa is 157th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 48%, which is 90th in Division 1. The Hawkeyes are 165th in the nation in defensive rating with 99.6, and their offensive rating of 111 is ranked 79th. They are 78th in D-1 in pace with 73 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 80th. As a unit they are 100th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 206th in the country.

Who will win tonight's Northern Illinois/Iowa college basketball game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Iowa -15

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