Valparaiso at Northwestern College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/14/2017

Thursday, December 14, 2017

Allstate Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Valparaiso Crusaders travel to Allstate Arena to play the Northwestern Wildcats on Thursday, December 14, 2017. The opening line for this game has Northwestern as 8 point favorites.

Valparaiso heads into this matchup with a mark of 8-2. They currently have a point differential of 15.3 as they are averaging 78.4 points per contest while giving up 63.1 per game. Northwestern has an overall mark of 6-4. They are averaging 74.2 points per contest and giving up 66.7, which is a point differential of 7.5.

Valuable Valparaiso Crusaders Betting Trends

The Valparaiso Crusaders are 5-2 against the spread this season

The Valparaiso Crusaders are 2-5 against the over/under this year

Important Northwestern Wildcats Betting Trends

The Northwestern Wildcats are 3-5 against the spread this season

The Northwestern Wildcats are 3-4 against the over/under this year

Key Valparaiso Crusaders Injuries

12/13/17 G Tevonn Walker Mononucleosis is out indefinitely

Key Northwestern Wildcats Injuries

12/11/17 F Rapolas Ivanauskas Shoulder is out for season

Player Spotlight

Tevonn Walker averages 16.4 points per game while playing 26.2 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 4.8 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 43% while his free throw percentage is at 80%. Bakari Evelyn averages 10.9 points per game in 26.7 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3.8 assists per contest and 3.7 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 45% for the year while his free throw percentage is 83%.

Player Spotlight

Scottie Lindsey averages 15.8 points per game while playing 29.9 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 3.9 rebounds per game and has 1.7 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is at 79%. Bryant McIntosh averages 13.8 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 34.9 minutes per contest. He also averages 3.4 rebounds per contest and 5.8 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is 96%.

Useful Team Statistics

Valparaiso averages 78.4 points per contest this season, which ranks them 117th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 15.3 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a team, which has them ranked 105th. Behind the arc they shoot 33%, which is good for 252nd in the country. They average 41.9 rebounds per game and 13.1 assists per game, which ranks them 14th and 231st in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 85th with 15.0 per game. The Crusaders allow 63.1 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 31st in Division 1. They also allow a 37% shooting percentage and a 26% average from behind the arc, ranking them 9th and 6th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 32.9 rebounds a game which ranks 99th and they give up 12.2 assists per contest, which puts them in 119th place in college basketball. They force 16.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 292nd in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Northwestern is 204th in the country with 74.2 points per game this year. They are 213th in D-1 in shooting at 44%, while their average scoring margin is 7.5. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 188th in college basketball. They are 320th in the nation in rebounding with 32.4 boards per game, and 161st in assists per contest with 14.4. The Wildcats are 298th in turnovers per game with 11.9. The Wildcats surrender 66.7 points per contest, which ranks them 78th in the country. Their defense allows a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 221st and 170th in those defensive statistics. They rank 180th with 13.1 assists allowed per contest and 71st with 32.2 rebounds surrendered per game. The Wildcats are 235th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 15.0 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Crusaders are 12th in the country in defensive rating with 86.3, and their offensive rating of 107.3 is ranked 145th. They are 93rd in college basketball in pace with 73.1 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 158th. As a unit they are 112th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shot attempts, ranking 283rd in D-1. Valparaiso is 106th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 19.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 42%, which is 10th in the country.

Advanced Statistics

Northwestern is 260th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 19.7 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 194th in Division 1. The Wildcats are 102nd in the nation in defensive rating with 96.1, and their offensive rating of 106.9 is ranked 152nd. They are 290th in D-1 in pace with 68.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 195th. As a unit they are 141st in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 41% of their shot attempts, ranking 106th in the country.

Who will win tonight's Valparaiso/Northwestern college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Northwestern -8

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