UMass at Harvard College Basketball Picks & Predictions 11/12/2017

Sunday, November 12, 2017

Lavietes Pavilion

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The UMass Minutemen head to Lavietes Pavilion to take on the Harvard Crimson on Sunday, November 12, 2017.

UMass comes into this game after finishing last season with an overall record of 14-17. They had a point differential of 0.0 as they averaged 71.8 points per game while giving up 71.9 per contest. Harvard had an overall mark of 18-9 last year. They averaged 71.9 points per contest and gave up 65.8, which was a point differential of 6.1.

Valuable UMass Minutemen Betting Trends

The UMass Minutemen were 12-16 against the spread last season

The UMass Minutemen were 14-12 against the over/under last year

Important Harvard Crimson Betting Trends

The Harvard Crimson were 15-6 against the spread last season

The Harvard Crimson were 13-8 against the over/under last year

Key UMass Minutemen Injuries

11/05/17 G Jaylen Brantley Heart is out for season

Key Harvard Crimson Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Donte Clark averaged 12.6 points per contest while playing 28.7 minutes per night last year. He grabbed 3.8 rebounds per contest and distributed 2.9 assists per game. His FG percentage was 40% while his free throw percentage was 76%. Rashaan Holloway averaged 10.4 points per contest in 19 minutes per game last year. He averaged 0.8 assists per game and 5.8 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage was 62% for the season while his free throw percentage was 58%.

Player Spotlight

Bryce Aiken scored 14.5 points per contest while playing 27.8 minutes per game last season. He hauled in 2.2 rebounds per contest and had 2.8 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage was 40% and his free throw percentage finished at 88%. Seth Towns averaged 12.3 points per game last year and he saw the court an average of 24.6 minutes per game. He also brought in 4.4 rebounds per game and had 1.3 assists per contest. His field goal percentage was 43% and his free throw percentage was 82%.

Useful Team Statistics

UMass averaged 71.8 points per contest last year, which was 208th in the nation. Their average scoring margin was 0.0 and their shooting percentage was 44% as a unit, which had them ranked 222nd. From 3-point territory they shot 30%, which was good for 342nd in Division 1. They averaged 35.9 boards per contest and 16.0 assists per game, which ranked them 169th and 35th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they were 34th with 14.8 per game. The Minutemen allowed 71.9 points per contest, which was 173rd in the country. They also surrendered a 41% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 50th and 161st in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents averaged 37.0 rebounds a game which ranked 264th, and they allowed 13.7 assists per game which put them in 225th place in college basketball. They forced 14.3 turnovers per game which ranked them 270th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Harvard was 205th in the country with 71.9 points per contest last season. They were 155th in the nation in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin was 6.1. They shot 36% from beyond the arc, which was good for 158th in Division 1. They were 173rd in the country in rebounding with 35.9 boards per contest and 110th in assists per game with 14.4. The Crimson were 161st in turnovers per contest with 13.2. The Crimson gave up 65.8 points per game, which ranked them 40th in the nation. Their defense surrendered a 41% shooting percentage and a 31% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 44th and 26th in those defensive statistics. They ranked 98th with 12.2 dimes allowed per game and 128th with 34.3 boards surrendered per contest. The Crimson were 139th in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 12.7 per contest last year.

Advanced Statistics

The Minutemen were 293rd in the nation last year in offensive rating with 98.5, and their defensive rating of 98.5 was ranked 80th. In terms of pace they were 41st in the country with 73 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 50% was 230th. As a team they were 258th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shot 3-pointers on 41% of their shots, ranking 72nd in Division 1. UMass was 53rd in turnovers, as they turned the ball over an average of 18 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season was 47%, which was 40th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Harvard was 100th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turned the ball over an average of 17.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season was 47%, which was 34th in the nation. The Crimson were 127th in the country in offensive rating with 106.4, and their defensive rating of 97.4 was ranked 57th. In terms of pace they were 274th in Division 1 with 67.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% was 116th. As a team they were 100th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shot 3-pointers on 41% of their shots, ranking 59th in the nation.

Who will win tonight's UMass/Harvard college basketball game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take UMass

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