Northwestern at DePaul College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/16/2017

Saturday, December 16, 2017

Wintrust Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Northwestern Wildcats travel to Wintrust Arena to play the DePaul Blue Demons on Saturday, December 16, 2017. The opening line for this game has Northwestern as 4.5 point favorites.

Northwestern comes into this game with an overall record of 7-4. They currently have a point differential of 9.9 as they are averaging 75.1 points per game while giving up 65.2 per contest. DePaul has an overall record of 6-4. They are averaging 74.6 points per game and surrendering 68.6, good for a point differential of 6.0.

Valuable Northwestern Wildcats Betting Trends

The Northwestern Wildcats are 4-5 against the spread this season

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

Important DePaul Blue Demons Betting Trends

The DePaul Blue Demons are 5-5 against the spread this season

The DePaul Blue Demons are 5-5 against the over/under this year

Key Northwestern Wildcats Injuries

12/11/17 F Rapolas Ivanauskas Shoulder is out for season

Key DePaul Blue Demons Injuries

12/09/17 G Devin Gage Achilles is out for season

Player Spotlight

Vic Law averages 14.1 points per game in 31.4 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.8 assists per contest and 5.5 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 49% for the year while his free throw percentage is 83%. Scottie Lindsey averages 15.5 points per game while playing 29.8 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 3.6 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.8 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 41% while his free throw percentage is at 78%.

Player Spotlight

Eli Cain averages 12.4 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 31.1 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.1 rebounds per contest and 4 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 38% and his free throw percentage is 64%. Max Strus averages 15.3 points per game while playing 33.3 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 4.5 rebounds per game and has 1.8 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is at 88%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Wildcats allow 65.2 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 55th in the nation. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 206th and 195th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 31.9 rebounds a game which ranks 61st, and they give up 12.6 assists per contest, which puts them in 145th place in the country. They force 15.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 268th in college basketball. Northwestern averages 75.1 points per contest this season, which ranks them 186th in Division 1. Their average scoring margin is 9.9 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a team, which has them ranked 208th. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 115th in D-1. They average 32.5 rebounds per game and 14.8 assists per game, which ranks them 313th and 130th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 317th with 11.5 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Blue Demons surrender 68.6 points per contest, which ranks them 112th in the country. Their defense allows a 41% shooting percentage and a 38% average from 3-point range, ranking them 74th and 285th in those defensive statistics. They rank 176th with 13.0 assists allowed per contest, and 168th with 34.8 rebounds surrendered per game. The Blue Demons are 255th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 15.3 per game this season. DePaul is 196th in Division 1 with 74.6 points per game this year. They are 261st in the country in shooting at 43%, while their average scoring margin is 6.0. They shoot 31% from 3-point range, which is good for 297th in the nation. They are 161st in college basketball in rebounding with 36.8 boards per game and 161st in assists per contest with 14.4. The Blue Demons are 333rd in turnovers per game with 10.9.

Advanced Statistics

The Wildcats are 122nd in the nation in offensive rating with 108.5, and their defensive rating of 94.2 is ranked 84th. In terms of pace they are 289th in the country with 68.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 180th. As a team they are 130th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shots, ranking 109th in Division 1. Northwestern is 295th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 20.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 188th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

DePaul is 335th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 19 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 49%, which is 152nd in Division 1. The Blue Demons are 137th in the nation in defensive rating with 97.9, and their offensive rating of 106.4 is ranked 159th. They are 259th in D-1 in pace with 69.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 48% is 293rd. As a unit they are 282nd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 52% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shot attempts, ranking 294th in the country.

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

Josh's Pick: Take DePaul +4.5

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