Santa Clara at USC College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/14/2017

Thursday, December 14, 2017

Galen Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Santa Clara Broncos travel to Galen Center to play the USC Trojans on Thursday, December 14, 2017. The opening line for this game has USC as 18 point favorites.

Santa Clara heads into this matchup with a mark of 3-6. They currently have a point differential of 3.4 as they are averaging 75.3 points per contest while giving up 71.9 per game. USC has an overall record of 4-3. They are averaging 76.7 points per game and surrendering 70.1, good for a point differential of 6.6.

Valuable Santa Clara Broncos Betting Trends

The Santa Clara Broncos are 1-6 against the spread this season

The Santa Clara Broncos are 5-2 against the over/under this year

Important USC Trojans Betting Trends

The USC Trojans are 4-3 against the spread this season

The USC Trojans are 2-5 against the over/under this year

Key Santa Clara Broncos Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key USC Trojans Injuries

12/13/17 G De'Anthony Melton Suspension is "?" Thursday vs Santa Clara
12/08/17 G Derryck Thornton Shoulder is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Henry Caruso averages 13.2 points per game in 34.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.9 assists per contest and 7.3 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 48% for the year while his free throw percentage is 92%. KJ Feagin averages 18.9 points per game while playing 34.7 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 2.2 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.3 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 48% while his free throw percentage is at 83%.

Player Spotlight

Bennie Boatwright averages 14.6 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 30.7 minutes per contest. He also averages 7.9 rebounds per contest and 2 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 39% and his free throw percentage is 69%. Chimezie Metu averages 15.6 points per game while playing 30.9 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 8.1 rebounds per game and has 1.1 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is at 67%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Broncos allow 71.9 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 183rd in the nation. They also allow a 49% shooting percentage and a 44% average from behind the arc, ranking them 331st and 351st in those defensive categories. Opponents average 31.0 rebounds a game which ranks 35th, and they give up 16.4 assists per contest, which puts them in 319th place in the country. They force 14.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 200th in college basketball. Santa Clara averages 75.3 points per contest this season, which ranks them 178th in Division 1. Their average scoring margin is 3.4 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 79th. Behind the arc they shoot 38% which is good for 71st in D-1. They average 30.0 rebounds per game and 16.1 assists per game, which ranks them 344th and 68th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 293rd with 12.0 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Trojans surrender 70.1 points per contest, which ranks them 141st in the country. Their defense allows a 41% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 89th and 216th in those defensive statistics. They rank 116th with 12.1 assists allowed per contest, and 265th with 37.3 rebounds surrendered per game. The Trojans are 210th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 14.6 per game this season. USC is 151st in Division 1 with 76.7 points per game this year. They are 281st in the country in shooting at 42%, while their average scoring margin is 6.6. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 111th in the nation. They are 30th in college basketball in rebounding with 41.0 boards per game and 188th in assists per contest with 14.0. The Trojans are 241st in turnovers per game with 12.9.

Advanced Statistics

The Broncos are 88th in the nation in offensive rating with 109.9, and their defensive rating of 104.9 is ranked 260th. In terms of pace they are 307th in the country with 67.7 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 56% is 49th. As a team they are 51st in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 43% of their shots, ranking 72nd in Division 1. Santa Clara is 227th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 19.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 57%, which is 334th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

USC is 277th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 48%, which is 101st in the nation. The Trojans are 192nd in the country in offensive rating with 104.1, and their defensive rating of 95.2 is ranked 91st. In terms of pace they are 126th in Division 1 with 72.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 49% is 268th. As a team they are 276th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 52% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 206th in the nation.

Who will win tonight's Santa Clara/USC college basketball game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take USC -18

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