UMBC at Maryland College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/29/2017

Friday, December 29, 2017

XFINITY Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The UMBC Retrievers head to XFINITY Center to take on the Maryland Terrapins on Friday, December 29, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Maryland as 19.5 point favorites.

UMBC heads into this matchup with a mark of 8-5. They currently have a point differential of 4.8 as they are averaging 81.4 points per contest while giving up 76.6 per game. Maryland has an overall record of 11-3. They are averaging 78.9 points per game and surrendering 63.9, good for a point differential of 15.1.

Valuable UMBC Retrievers Betting Trends

The UMBC Retrievers are 1-0 against the spread this season

The UMBC Retrievers are 1-0 against the over/under this year

Important Maryland Terrapins Betting Trends

The Maryland Terrapins are 6-4 against the spread this season

The Maryland Terrapins are 5-5 against the over/under this year

Key UMBC Retrievers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Maryland Terrapins Injuries

12/28/17 G Dion Wiley Ankle is "?" Friday vs MD Baltimore Co
12/28/17 F Justin Jackson Shoulder is "?" Friday vs MD Baltimore Co
12/28/17 C Michal Cekovsky Ankle is "?" Friday vs MD Baltimore Co

Player Spotlight

Jairus Lyles averages 21.8 points per contest while playing 35.6 minutes per night this year. He grabs 5.4 rebounds per contest and distributes 4 assists per game. His FG percentage is 43% while his free throw percentage is 82%. Arkel Lamar averages 14.3 points per contest in 30.2 minutes per game this year. He averages 1.4 assists per game and 7.2 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 44% for the season while his free throw percentage is 61%.

Player Spotlight

Anthony Cowan scores 15.6 points per contest while playing 34.9 minutes per game this season. He hauls in 4.8 rebounds per contest and has 4.4 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is at 88%. Kevin Huerter averages 13.7 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 32.9 minutes per game. He also brings in 5.1 rebounds per game and has 3.9 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 53% and his free throw percentage is 61%.

Useful Team Statistics

UMBC averages 81.4 points per contest this year, which is 62nd in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 4.8 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a unit, which has them ranked 211th. From 3-point territory they shoot 43%, which is good for 9th in Division 1. They average 37.1 boards per contest and 16.7 assists per game, which ranks them 147th and 49th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 162nd with 13.8 per game. The Retrievers allow 76.6 points per contest, which is 273rd in the country. They also surrender a 47% shooting percentage and a 38% average from 3-point range, ranking them 306th and 307th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 35.5 rebounds a game which ranks 213th, and they allow 14.8 assists per game which puts them in 269th place in college basketball. They force 15.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 260th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Maryland is 92nd in the country with 78.9 points per contest this season. They are 28th in the nation in shooting at 50%, while their average scoring margin is 15.1. They shoot 39% from beyond the arc, which is good for 48th in Division 1. They are 38th in the country in rebounding with 40.1 boards per contest and 103rd in assists per game with 15.3. The Terrapins are 14th in turnovers per contest with 16.6. The Terrapins give up 63.9 points per game, which ranks them 31st in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 38% shooting percentage and a 29% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 17th and 15th in those defensive statistics. They rank 28th with 10.6 dimes allowed per game and 7th with 29.4 boards surrendered per contest. The Terrapins are 65th in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 12.4 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Retrievers are 58th in the nation in offensive rating with 112.6, and their defensive rating of 106 is ranked 275th. In terms of pace they are 121st in the country with 72.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 55% is 78th. As a team they are 99th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 48% of their shots, ranking 11th in Division 1. UMBC is 207th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 18.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 55%, which is 319th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Maryland is 13th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 20.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.3 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 43%, which is 12th in Division 1. The Terrapins are 34th in the nation in defensive rating with 91.4, and their offensive rating of 113 is ranked 56th. They are 259th in D-1 in pace with 69.2 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 58% is 23rd. As a unit they are 20th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 61% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shot attempts, ranking 145th in the country.

Who will win tonight's UMBC/Maryland college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take UMBC +19.5

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