Northwestern State at Utah College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/20/2017

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Jon M. Huntsman Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Northwestern State Demons travel to Jon M. Huntsman Center to play the Utah Utes on Wednesday, December 20, 2017. The opening line for this game has Utah as 23 point favorites.

Northwestern State heads into this matchup with a mark of 3-6. They currently have a point differential of -9.6 as they are averaging 68.7 points per contest while giving up 78.2 per game. Utah has an overall mark of 7-3. They are averaging 76.8 points per contest and giving up 68.5, which is a point differential of 8.3.

Valuable Northwestern State Demons Betting Trends

The Northwestern State Demons are 0-0 against the spread this season

The Northwestern State Demons are 0-0 against the over/under this year

Important Utah Utes Betting Trends

The Utah Utes are 5-3 against the spread this season

The Utah Utes are 3-5 against the over/under this year

Key Northwestern State Demons Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Utah Utes Injuries

12/19/17 F Donnie Tillman Foot is "?" Wednesday vs Northwestern St
12/02/17 F Chris Seeley Illness is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Iziahiah Sweeney averages 10.6 points per game while playing 23.4 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 4.1 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 59% while his free throw percentage is at 55%. Ishmael Lane averages 11 points per game in 21.8 minutes per contest this season. He averages 0.4 assists per contest and 6.8 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 49% for the year while his free throw percentage is 62%.

Player Spotlight

David Collette averages 13.5 points per game while playing 21.3 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 5.1 rebounds per game and has 0.9 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 59% and his free throw percentage is at 77%. Donnie Tillman averages 10.7 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 22.9 minutes per contest. He also averages 6.2 rebounds per contest and 0.7 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 53% and his free throw percentage is 87%.

Useful Team Statistics

Northwestern State averages 68.7 points per contest this season, which ranks them 294th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is -9.6 and their shooting percentage is 41% as a team, which has them ranked 318th. Behind the arc they shoot 28%, which is good for 343rd in the country. They average 37.8 rebounds per game and 11.8 assists per game, which ranks them 111th and 305th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 17th with 16.6 per game. The Demons allow 78.2 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 293rd in Division 1. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 203rd and 205th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 38.7 rebounds a game which ranks 304th and they give up 14.1 assists per contest, which puts them in 234th place in college basketball. They force 14.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 180th in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Utah is 149th in the country with 76.8 points per game this year. They are 114th in D-1 in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 8.3. They shoot 34% from 3-point range, which is good for 237th in college basketball. They are 149th in the nation in rebounding with 37.1 boards per game, and 121st in assists per contest with 15.1. The Utes are 180th in turnovers per game with 13.6. The Utes surrender 68.5 points per contest, which ranks them 101st in the country. Their defense allows a 41% shooting percentage and a 28% average from 3-point range, ranking them 84th and 13th in those defensive statistics. They rank 30th with 10.6 assists allowed per contest and 145th with 34.2 rebounds surrendered per game. The Utes are 120th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 13.2 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Demons are 255th in the country in defensive rating with 104.6, and their offensive rating of 91.8 is ranked 333rd. They are 42nd in college basketball in pace with 74.8 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 46% is 334th. As a unit they are 325th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 50% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 238th in D-1. Northwestern State is 31st in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 19.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.3 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 214th in the country.

Advanced Statistics

Utah is 155th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 46%, which is 59th in Division 1. The Utes are 85th in the nation in defensive rating with 94.7, and their offensive rating of 106.2 is ranked 156th. They are 128th in D-1 in pace with 72.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 111th. As a unit they are 73rd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 42% of their shot attempts, ranking 81st in the country.

Who will win tonight's Northwestern State/Utah college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Utah -23

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