Northwestern at Oklahoma College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/22/2017

Friday, December 22, 2017

Lloyd Noble Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Northwestern Wildcats travel to Lloyd Noble Center to play the Oklahoma Sooners on Friday, December 22, 2017. The opening line for this game has Oklahoma as 7.5 point favorites.

Northwestern heads into this matchup with a mark of 9-4. They currently have a point differential of 11.4 as they are averaging 74.8 points per contest while giving up 63.5 per game. Oklahoma has an overall record of 9-1. They are averaging 94.2 points per game and surrendering 79.2, good for a point differential of 15.0.

Valuable Northwestern Wildcats Betting Trends

The Northwestern Wildcats are 4-6 against the spread this season

The Northwestern Wildcats are 3-6 against the over/under this year

Important Oklahoma Sooners Betting Trends

The Oklahoma Sooners are 3-6 against the spread this season

The Oklahoma Sooners are 8-1 against the over/under this year

Key Northwestern Wildcats Injuries

12/21/17 F Vic Law Concussion is "?" Friday vs Oklahoma
12/11/17 F Rapolas Ivanauskas Shoulder is out for season

Key Oklahoma Sooners Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Vic Law averages 13.7 points per game in 29.8 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.8 assists per contest and 5.3 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 50% for the year while his free throw percentage is 81%. Scottie Lindsey averages 15.8 points per game while playing 29.1 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 3.9 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.7 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 48% while his free throw percentage is at 79%.

Player Spotlight

Christian James averages 12.8 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 28.2 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.5 rebounds per contest and 2.1 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 79%. Trae Young averages 28.5 points per game while playing 32.3 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 3.6 rebounds per game and has 10.2 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is at 86%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Wildcats allow 63.5 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 29th in the nation. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the arc, ranking them 165th and 159th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 32.1 rebounds a game which ranks 62nd, and they give up 12.4 assists per contest, which puts them in 127th place in the country. They force 15.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 278th in college basketball. Northwestern averages 74.8 points per contest this season, which ranks them 187th in Division 1. Their average scoring margin is 11.4 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a team, which has them ranked 217th. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 125th in D-1. They average 33.7 rebounds per game and 15.2 assists per game, which ranks them 284th and 113th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 293rd with 11.9 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Sooners surrender 79.2 points per contest, which ranks them 305th in the country. Their defense allows a 41% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 95th and 243rd in those defensive statistics. They rank 238th with 14.1 assists allowed per contest, and 295th with 38.2 rebounds surrendered per game. The Sooners are 249th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 15.2 per game this season. Oklahoma is 1st in Division 1 with 94.2 points per game this year. They are 28th in the country in shooting at 50%, while their average scoring margin is 15.0. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 134th in the nation. They are 37th in college basketball in rebounding with 40.3 boards per game and 15th in assists per contest with 18.8. The Sooners are 236th in turnovers per game with 12.9.

Advanced Statistics

The Wildcats are 119th in the nation in offensive rating with 108.2, and their defensive rating of 91.8 is ranked 36th. In terms of pace they are 287th in the country with 68.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 177th. As a team they are 138th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 42% of their shots, ranking 87th in Division 1. Northwestern is 272nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 20.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 49%, which is 140th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Oklahoma is 313th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.6 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 49%, which is 131st in Division 1. The Sooners are 145th in the nation in defensive rating with 98.6, and their offensive rating of 117.3 is ranked 20th. They are 5th in D-1 in pace with 80.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 58% is 24th. As a unit they are 25th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 60% and they shoot 3-pointers on 43% of their shot attempts, ranking 69th in the country.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Oklahoma -7.5

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 Guy Bruhn