UC Santa Barbara at USC College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/17/2017

Sunday, December 17, 2017

Galen Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos travel to Galen Center to play the USC Trojans on Sunday, December 17, 2017. The opening line for this game has USC as 13 point favorites.

UC Santa Barbara comes into this game with an overall record of 8-2. They currently have a point differential of 5.6 as they are averaging 76.7 points per game while giving up 71.1 per contest. USC has an overall record of 5-3. They are averaging 77.4 points per game and surrendering 68.8, good for a point differential of 8.6.

Valuable UC Santa Barbara Gauchos Betting Trends

The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos are 7-2 against the spread this season

The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos are 6-3 against the over/under this year

Important USC Trojans Betting Trends

The USC Trojans are 5-3 against the spread this season

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

Key UC Santa Barbara Gauchos Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key USC Trojans Injuries

12/16/17 G De'Anthony Melton Suspension is out indefinitely
12/08/17 G Derryck Thornton Shoulder is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Max Heidegger averages 23.4 points per game while playing 34.3 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 2.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.9 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 50% while his free throw percentage is at 71%. Leland King averages 19.2 points per game in 32.4 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.3 assists per contest and 10 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 53% for the year while his free throw percentage is 76%.

Player Spotlight

Chimezie Metu averages 16.1 points per game while playing 30.8 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 8.5 rebounds per game and has 1.1 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 50% and his free throw percentage is at 69%. Bennie Boatwright averages 15.4 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 31 minutes per contest. He also averages 8.3 rebounds per contest and 2.1 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is 72%.

Useful Team Statistics

UC Santa Barbara averages 76.7 points per contest this season, which ranks them 153rd in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 5.6 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a team, which has them ranked 99th. Behind the arc they shoot 39%, which is good for 60th in the country. They average 36.0 rebounds per game and 14.4 assists per game, which ranks them 191st and 165th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 309th with 11.7 per game. The Gauchos allow 71.1 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 163rd in Division 1. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 31% average from behind the arc, ranking them 158th and 71st in those defensive categories. Opponents average 35.2 rebounds a game which ranks 185th and they give up 12.8 assists per contest, which puts them in 158th place in college basketball. They force 12.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 60th in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

USC is 142nd in the country with 77.4 points per game this year. They are 257th in D-1 in shooting at 43%, while their average scoring margin is 8.6. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 108th in college basketball. They are 12th in the nation in rebounding with 42.4 boards per game, and 129th in assists per contest with 14.9. The Trojans are 263rd in turnovers per game with 12.5. The Trojans surrender 68.8 points per contest, which ranks them 114th in the country. Their defense allows a 40% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 58th and 161st in those defensive statistics. They rank 113th with 12.1 assists allowed per contest and 229th with 36.0 rebounds surrendered per game. The Trojans are 134th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 13.4 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Gauchos are 204th in the country in defensive rating with 101.6, and their offensive rating of 109.6 is ranked 100th. They are 232nd in college basketball in pace with 70 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 97th. As a unit they are 108th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 227th in D-1. UC Santa Barbara is 292nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 49%, which is 132nd in the country.

Advanced Statistics

USC is 298th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.9 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 47%, which is 71st in the nation. The Trojans are 161st in the country in offensive rating with 106.4, and their defensive rating of 94.5 is ranked 89th. In terms of pace they are 161st in Division 1 with 71.6 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 50% is 245th. As a team they are 250th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 236th in the nation.

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

Guy's Pick: Take USC -13

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