UCF at East Carolina College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/31/2017

Sunday, December 31, 2017

Minges Coliseum

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The UCF Knights travel to Minges Coliseum to play the East Carolina Pirates on Sunday, December 31, 2017. The opening line for this game has UCF as 11.5 point favorites.

UCF heads into this matchup with a mark of 9-4. They currently have a point differential of 4.2 as they are averaging 66.3 points per contest while giving up 62.2 per game. East Carolina has an overall record of 6-6. They are averaging 67.8 points per game and surrendering 70.5, good for a point differential of -2.7.

Valuable UCF Knights Betting Trends

The UCF Knights are 6-2 against the spread this season

The UCF Knights are 1-7 against the over/under this year

Important East Carolina Pirates Betting Trends

The East Carolina Pirates are 1-4 against the spread this season

The East Carolina Pirates are 2-3 against the over/under this year

Key UCF Knights Injuries

11/14/17 G B.J. Taylor Knee is out indefinitely
11/10/17 C Collin Smith Eligibility is out for season
11/05/17 F Aubrey Dawkins Shoulder is out for season

Key East Carolina Pirates Injuries

12/13/17 G Seth LeDay Eligibility is out indefinitely
11/05/17 G Jeremy Sheppard Suspension is out indefinitely
11/05/17 G Raquan Wilkins Suspension is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Tacko Fall averages 12.7 points per game while playing 21.5 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 7.7 rebounds per game and dishes out 0.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is at 53%. A.J. Davis averages 10.8 points per game in 33.2 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.5 assists per contest and 9 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 42% for the year while his free throw percentage is 68%.

Player Spotlight

B.J. Tyson averages 15.7 points per game while playing 35.4 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 4.8 rebounds per game and has 2.6 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is at 80%. Isaac Fleming averages 13.8 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 31.9 minutes per contest. He also averages 3.2 rebounds per contest and 4.8 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is 64%.

Useful Team Statistics

UCF averages 66.3 points per contest this season, which ranks them 322nd in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 4.2 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 185th. Behind the arc they shoot 30%, which is good for 329th in the country. They average 39.4 rebounds per game and 11.5 assists per game, which ranks them 57th and 319th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 39th with 15.7 per game. The Knights allow 62.2 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 17th in Division 1. They also allow a 38% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the arc, ranking them 16th and 175th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 32.8 rebounds a game which ranks 89th and they give up 12.9 assists per contest, which puts them in 153rd place in college basketball. They force 12.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 70th in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

East Carolina is 302nd in the country with 67.8 points per game this year. They are 274th in D-1 in shooting at 43%, while their average scoring margin is -2.7. They shoot 26% from 3-point range, which is good for 349th in college basketball. They are 72nd in the nation in rebounding with 38.8 boards per game, and 262nd in assists per contest with 12.7. The Pirates are 66th in turnovers per game with 15.1. The Pirates surrender 70.5 points per contest, which ranks them 145th in the country. Their defense allows a 41% shooting percentage and a 30% average from 3-point range, ranking them 78th and 22nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 286th with 15.3 assists allowed per contest and 285th with 37.8 rebounds surrendered per game. The Pirates are 89th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 12.7 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Knights are 31st in the country in defensive rating with 91.4, and their offensive rating of 97.5 is ranked 297th. They are 301st in college basketball in pace with 68 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 49% is 253rd. As a unit they are 271st in the nation in true shooting percentage with 52% and they shoot 3-pointers on 29% of their shot attempts, ranking 324th in D-1. UCF is 21st in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 19.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.8 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 44%, which is 20th in the country.

Advanced Statistics

East Carolina is 70th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 18.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.3 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 46%, which is 57th in the nation. The Pirates are 314th in the country in offensive rating with 95.3, and their defensive rating of 99.1 is ranked 152nd. In terms of pace they are 203rd in Division 1 with 70.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 47% is 317th. As a team they are 326th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 50% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shots, ranking 301st in the nation.

Who will win tonight's UCF/East Carolina college basketball game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take East Carolina +11.5

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