UAB at Auburn College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/9/2017

Saturday, December 9, 2017

Auburn Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The UAB Blazers head to Auburn Arena to take on the Auburn Tigers on Saturday, December 9, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Auburn as 4 point favorites.

UAB comes into this game with an overall record of 6-3. They currently have a point differential of 14.6 as they are averaging 82.6 points per game while giving up 68.0 per contest. Auburn has an overall mark of 7-1. They are averaging 87.4 points per contest and giving up 70.9, which is a point differential of 16.5.

Valuable UAB Blazers Betting Trends

The UAB Blazers are 3-3 against the spread this season

The UAB Blazers are 3-3 against the over/under this year

Important Auburn Tigers Betting Trends

The Auburn Tigers are 5-1 against the spread this season

The Auburn Tigers are 3-3 against the over/under this year

Key UAB Blazers Injuries

12/08/17 F Chris Cokley Ankle is probable Saturday vs Auburn

Key Auburn Tigers Injuries

12/08/17 G Mustapha Heron Back is "?" Saturday vs UAB
11/05/17 C Austin Wiley Suspension is out indefinitely
11/05/17 F Danjel Purifoy Suspension is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Chris Cokley averages 17.7 points per contest while playing 27.9 minutes per night this year. He grabs 10.2 rebounds per contest and distributes 1.8 assists per game. His FG percentage is 40% while his free throw percentage is 85%. Zack Bryant averages 14.3 points per contest in 29.6 minutes per game this year. He averages 3.1 assists per game and 1.9 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 45% for the season while his free throw percentage is 80%.

Player Spotlight

Bryce Brown scores 15.9 points per contest while playing 30.8 minutes per game this season. He hauls in 2.8 rebounds per contest and has 2.1 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 40% and his free throw percentage is at 86%. Mustapha Heron averages 15.9 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 25.6 minutes per game. He also brings in 5.3 rebounds per game and has 1.1 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is 80%.

Useful Team Statistics

UAB averages 82.6 points per contest this year, which is 60th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 14.6 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a unit, which has them ranked 76th. From 3-point territory they shoot 32%, which is good for 274th in Division 1. They average 41.7 boards per contest and 16.6 assists per game, which ranks them 30th and 53rd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 272nd with 12.3 per game. The Blazers allow 68.0 points per contest, which is 99th in the country. They also surrender a 43% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 154th and 137th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 29.1 rebounds a game which ranks 8th, and they allow 12.1 assists per game which puts them in 121st place in college basketball. They force 13.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 143rd in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Auburn is 23rd in the country with 87.4 points per contest this season. They are 105th in the nation in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 16.5. They shoot 38% from beyond the arc, which is good for 81st in Division 1. They are 12th in the country in rebounding with 43.0 boards per contest and 81st in assists per game with 15.9. The Tigers are 141st in turnovers per contest with 14.1. The Tigers give up 70.9 points per game, which ranks them 160th in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 40% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 58th and 256th in those defensive statistics. They rank 191st with 13.4 dimes allowed per game and 40th with 31.4 boards surrendered per contest. The Tigers are 293rd in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 16.4 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Blazers are 34th in the nation in offensive rating with 115.7, and their defensive rating of 95.3 is ranked 101st. In terms of pace they are 223rd in the country with 70.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 134th. As a team they are 82nd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shots, ranking 280th in Division 1. UAB is 292nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 178th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Auburn is 217th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 19.4 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 48%, which is 108th in Division 1. The Tigers are 83rd in the nation in defensive rating with 94.3, and their offensive rating of 116.3 is ranked 27th. They are 41st in D-1 in pace with 75.1 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 83rd. As a unit they are 63rd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shot attempts, ranking 113th in the country.

Who will win tonight's UAB/Auburn college basketball game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take UAB +4

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