Penn State at Pittsburgh College Basketball Picks & Predictions 11/20/2017

Monday, November 20, 2017

Barclays Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Penn State Nittany Lions head to Barclays Center to take on the Pittsburgh Panthers on Monday, November 20, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Penn State as 9.5 point favorites.

Penn State comes into this game with an overall record of 4-0. They currently have a point differential of 15.5 as they are averaging 79.0 points per game while giving up 63.5 per contest. Pittsburgh has an overall mark of 1-2. They are averaging 70.0 points per contest and giving up 72.0, which is a point differential of -2.0.

Valuable Penn State Nittany Lions Betting Trends

The Penn State Nittany Lions are 2-0 against the spread this season

The Penn State Nittany Lions are 0-2 against the over/under this year

Important Pittsburgh Panthers Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Panthers are 1-2 against the spread this season

The Pittsburgh Panthers are 1-2 against the over/under this year

Key Penn State Nittany Lions Injuries

11/19/17 G Tony Carr Ankle missed last game, is "?" Monday vs. Pittsburgh

Key Pittsburgh Panthers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Tony Carr averages 20 points per contest while playing 28 minutes per night this year. He grabs 5 rebounds per contest and distributes 5.3 assists per game. His FG percentage is 50% while his free throw percentage is 92%. Lamar Stevens averages 14.8 points per contest in 31.8 minutes per game this year. He averages 2 assists per game and 6.5 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 46% for the season while his free throw percentage is 77%.

Player Spotlight

Jared Wilson-Frame scores 16.3 points per contest while playing 33.3 minutes per game this season. He hauls in 3.7 rebounds per contest and has 0.7 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 50% and his free throw percentage is at 75%. Ryan Luther averages 15 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 32.7 minutes per game. He also brings in 9.7 rebounds per game and has 2.7 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 51% and his free throw percentage is 50%.

Useful Team Statistics

Penn State averages 79.0 points per contest this year, which is 140th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 15.5 and their shooting percentage is 43% as a unit, which has them ranked 232nd. From 3-point territory they shoot 31%, which is good for 238th in Division 1. They average 40.0 boards per contest and 12.8 assists per game, which ranks them 121st and 228th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 63rd with 16.3 per game. The Nittany Lions allow 63.5 points per contest, which is 64th in the country. They also surrender a 40% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 119th and 189th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 32.5 rebounds a game which ranks 92nd, and they allow 10.0 assists per game which puts them in 60th place in college basketball. They force 21.0 turnovers per game which ranks them 339th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Pittsburgh is 263rd in the country with 70.0 points per contest this season. They are 202nd in the nation in shooting at 44%, while their average scoring margin is -2.0. They shoot 33% from beyond the arc, which is good for 200th in Division 1. They are 270th in the country in rebounding with 34.3 boards per contest and 232nd in assists per game with 12.7. The Panthers are 126th in turnovers per contest with 14.7. The Panthers give up 72.0 points per game, which ranks them 185th in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 40% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 123rd and 190th in those defensive statistics. They rank 303rd with 16.7 dimes allowed per game and 294th with 40.3 boards surrendered per contest. The Panthers are 105th in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 13.0 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Nittany Lions are 32nd in the country in defensive rating with 81.9, and their offensive rating of 101.9 is ranked 209th. They are 44th in college basketball in pace with 77.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 47% is 270th. As a unit they are 219th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 28% of their shot attempts, ranking 316th in D-1. Penn State is 109th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 24.7 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 46%, which is 111th in the country.

Advanced Statistics

Pittsburgh is 83rd in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 18.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 47%, which is 136th in Division 1. The Panthers are 208th in the nation in defensive rating with 100.9, and their offensive rating of 98.1 is ranked 257th. They are 305th in D-1 in pace with 68.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 50% is 196th. As a unit they are 175th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shot attempts, ranking 139th in the country.

Who will win tonight's Penn State/Pittsburgh college basketball game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Penn State -9.5

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