Utah at BYU College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/16/2017

Saturday, December 16, 2017

Marriott Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Utah Utes head to Marriott Center to take on the BYU Cougars on Saturday, December 16, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has BYU as 4 point favorites.

Utah heads into this matchup with a mark of 7-2. They currently have a point differential of 10.6 as they are averaging 78.1 points per contest while giving up 67.6 per game. BYU has an overall record of 8-2. They are averaging 76.7 points per game and surrendering 69.1, good for a point differential of 7.6.

Valuable Utah Utes Betting Trends

The Utah Utes are 5-2 against the spread this season

The Utah Utes are 3-4 against the over/under this year

Important BYU Cougars Betting Trends

The BYU Cougars are 3-5 against the spread this season

The BYU Cougars are 3-5 against the over/under this year

Key Utah Utes Injuries

12/02/17 F Chris Seeley Illness is out indefinitely

Key BYU Cougars Injuries

12/15/17 F Braiden Shaw Undisclosed is "?" Saturday vs Utah U
12/15/17 F Dalton Nixon Foot is downgraded to doubtful Saturday vs Utah U
11/07/17 G Nick Emery Left Team is out for season
11/05/17 F Ryan Andrus Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

David Collette averages 13.7 points per contest while playing 21.2 minutes per night this year. He grabs 5 rebounds per contest and distributes 0.9 assists per game. His FG percentage is 46% while his free throw percentage is 79%. Justin Bibbins averages 11.3 points per contest in 30.4 minutes per game this year. He averages 4.7 assists per game and 3.8 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 49% for the season while his free throw percentage is 85%.

Player Spotlight

Elijah Bryant scores 16.2 points per contest while playing 32.2 minutes per game this season. He hauls in 5.8 rebounds per contest and has 2.2 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is at 86%. Yoeli Childs averages 16.2 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 34.2 minutes per game. He also brings in 8.9 rebounds per game and has 2.1 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 52% and his free throw percentage is 61%.

Useful Team Statistics

Utah averages 78.1 points per contest this year, which is 126th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 10.6 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a unit, which has them ranked 113th. From 3-point territory they shoot 35%, which is good for 186th in Division 1. They average 38.1 boards per contest and 15.2 assists per game, which ranks them 105th and 113th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 170th with 13.7 per game. The Utes allow 67.6 points per contest, which is 91st in the country. They also surrender a 40% shooting percentage and a 26% average from 3-point range, ranking them 62nd and 6th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 34.3 rebounds a game which ranks 156th, and they allow 10.0 assists per game which puts them in 18th place in college basketball. They force 13.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 116th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

BYU is 152nd in the country with 76.7 points per contest this season. They are 79th in the nation in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 7.6. They shoot 36% from beyond the arc, which is good for 135th in Division 1. They are 275th in the country in rebounding with 33.8 boards per contest and 75th in assists per game with 15.9. The Cougars are 239th in turnovers per contest with 12.8. The Cougars give up 69.1 points per game, which ranks them 120th in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 226th and 164th in those defensive statistics. They rank 116th with 12.2 dimes allowed per game and 47th with 31.5 boards surrendered per contest. The Cougars are 79th in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 12.6 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Utes are 146th in the nation in offensive rating with 107.3, and their defensive rating of 92.8 is ranked 58th. In terms of pace they are 106th in the country with 72.8 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 99th. As a team they are 63rd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 42% of their shots, ranking 80th in Division 1. Utah is 160th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.9 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 45%, which is 41st in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

BYU is 192nd in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.3 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 201st in the nation. The Cougars are 90th in the country in offensive rating with 110, and their defensive rating of 99.1 is ranked 162nd. In terms of pace they are 241st in Division 1 with 69.7 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 91st. As a team they are 53rd in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shots, ranking 178th in the nation.

Who will win tonight's Utah/BYU college basketball game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Utah +4

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