Portland State at California College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/21/2017

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Haas Pavilion

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Portland State Vikings travel to Haas Pavilion to play the California Golden Bears on Thursday, December 21, 2017. The opening line for this game has California as 2.5 point favorites.

Portland State heads into this matchup with a mark of 9-3. They currently have a point differential of 15.2 as they are averaging 92.6 points per contest while giving up 77.4 per game. California has an overall mark of 6-6. They are averaging 75.6 points per contest and giving up 77.9, which is a point differential of -2.3.

Valuable Portland State Vikings Betting Trends

The Portland State Vikings are 9-0 against the spread this season

The Portland State Vikings are 6-2 against the over/under this year

Important California Golden Bears Betting Trends

The California Golden Bears are 4-6 against the spread this season

The California Golden Bears are 5-3 against the over/under this year

Key Portland State Vikings Injuries

12/20/17 F Brendan Rumel Hip is "?" Thursday vs California
12/20/17 C Traylin Farris Ankle is "?" Thursday vs California
12/08/17 F Braxton Tucker Knee is out indefinitely

Key California Golden Bears Injuries

11/16/17 F Cole Welle Thumb is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Bryce Canda averages 17.7 points per game in 34.6 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.9 assists per contest and 7 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 47% for the year while his free throw percentage is 53%. Deontae North averages 20.3 points per game while playing 28.7 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 4.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 38% while his free throw percentage is at 71%.

Player Spotlight

Darius McNeill averages 13.7 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 30.6 minutes per contest. He also averages 3.3 rebounds per contest and 2.8 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 52% and his free throw percentage is 73%. Don Coleman averages 20.7 points per game while playing 36.3 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 3.4 rebounds per game and has 2.7 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 38% and his free throw percentage is at 76%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Vikings allow 77.4 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 281st in the nation. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the arc, ranking them 256th and 112th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 40.0 rebounds a game which ranks 327th, and they give up 16.3 assists per contest, which puts them in 313th place in the country. They force 22.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 350th in college basketball. Portland State averages 92.6 points per contest this season, which ranks them 3rd in Division 1. Their average scoring margin is 15.2 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 136th. Behind the arc they shoot 39% which is good for 50th in D-1. They average 39.2 rebounds per game and 18.9 assists per game, which ranks them 66th and 9th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 189th with 13.5 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Golden Bears surrender 77.9 points per contest, which ranks them 287th in the country. Their defense allows a 45% shooting percentage and a 38% average from 3-point range, ranking them 238th and 307th in those defensive statistics. They rank 298th with 15.7 assists allowed per contest, and 130th with 33.8 rebounds surrendered per game. The Golden Bears are 170th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 13.9 per game this season. California is 172nd in Division 1 with 75.6 points per game this year. They are 187th in the country in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is -2.3. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 163rd in the nation. They are 172nd in college basketball in rebounding with 36.5 boards per game and 324th in assists per contest with 11.2. The Golden Bears are 86th in turnovers per game with 14.8.

Advanced Statistics

The Vikings are 80th in the country in defensive rating with 94.7, and their offensive rating of 113.3 is ranked 48th. They are 4th in college basketball in pace with 81.8 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 103rd. As a unit they are 123rd in the nation in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shot attempts, ranking 111th in D-1. Portland State is 322nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 24.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 230th in the country.

Advanced Statistics

California is 108th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.7 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 272nd in Division 1. The Golden Bears are 282nd in the nation in defensive rating with 107, and their offensive rating of 103.8 is ranked 200th. They are 132nd in D-1 in pace with 72.1 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 49% is 253rd. As a unit they are 219th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 25% of their shot attempts, ranking 343rd in the country.

Who will win tonight's Portland State/California college basketball game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take California -2.5

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 Josh Schonwald