Xavier at UNI College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/22/2017

Friday, December 22, 2017

McLeod Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Xavier Musketeers head to McLeod Center to take on the UNI Panthers on Friday, December 22, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Xavier as 6.5 point favorites.

Xavier heads into this matchup with a mark of 11-1. They currently have a point differential of 17.7 as they are averaging 87.8 points per contest while giving up 70.1 per game. UNI has an overall mark of 8-3. They are averaging 68.6 points per contest and giving up 59.0, which is a point differential of 9.6.

Valuable Xavier Musketeers Betting Trends

The Xavier Musketeers are 9-3 against the spread this season

The Xavier Musketeers are 8-4 against the over/under this year

Important UNI Panthers Betting Trends

The UNI Panthers are 3-3 against the spread this season

The UNI Panthers are 3-4 against the over/under this year

Key Xavier Musketeers Injuries

12/21/17 G J.P. Macura Head is "?" Friday vs Northern Iowa
12/21/17 F Kaiser Gates Head is "?" is "?" Friday vs Northern Iowa
12/21/17 F Naji Marshall Hip left last game, is "?" Friday vs Northern Iowa
12/21/17 F Tyrique Jones Ankle left last game, is "?" Friday vs Northern Iowa

Key UNI Panthers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Trevon Bluiett averages 20.4 points per contest while playing 33.1 minutes per night this year. He grabs 5.3 rebounds per contest and distributes 2.8 assists per game. His FG percentage is 58% while his free throw percentage is 88%. J.P. Macura averages 11.9 points per contest in 27 minutes per game this year. He averages 3.1 assists per game and 4.4 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 50% for the season while his free throw percentage is 84%.

Player Spotlight

Bennett Koch scores 14.1 points per contest while playing 26.7 minutes per game this season. He hauls in 7.7 rebounds per contest and has 0.4 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 58% and his free throw percentage is at 80%. Juwan McCloud averages 10.5 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 31.2 minutes per game. He also brings in 1.9 rebounds per game and has 2.5 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 37% and his free throw percentage is 64%.

Useful Team Statistics

Xavier averages 87.8 points per contest this year, which is 15th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 17.7 and their shooting percentage is 52% as a unit, which has them ranked 7th. From 3-point territory they shoot 38%, which is good for 86th in Division 1. They average 39.8 boards per contest and 17.8 assists per game, which ranks them 49th and 28th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 266th with 12.5 per game. The Musketeers allow 70.1 points per contest, which is 140th in the country. They also surrender a 39% shooting percentage and a 31% average from 3-point range, ranking them 32nd and 60th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 30.6 rebounds a game which ranks 25th, and they allow 11.8 assists per game which puts them in 91st place in college basketball. They force 11.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 21st in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

UNI is 297th in the country with 68.6 points per contest this season. They are 251st in the nation in shooting at 43%, while their average scoring margin is 9.6. They shoot 36% from beyond the arc, which is good for 155th in Division 1. They are 72nd in the country in rebounding with 39.1 boards per contest and 338th in assists per game with 10.7. The Panthers are 225th in turnovers per contest with 13.0. The Panthers give up 59.0 points per game, which ranks them 4th in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 36% shooting percentage and a 30% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 5th and 36th in those defensive statistics. They rank 11th with 9.6 dimes allowed per game and 182nd with 35.0 boards surrendered per contest. The Panthers are 63rd in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 12.3 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Musketeers are 119th in the country in defensive rating with 96.8, and their offensive rating of 121.2 is ranked 8th. They are 122nd in college basketball in pace with 72.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 59% is 14th. As a unit they are 3rd in the nation in true shooting percentage with 63% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shot attempts, ranking 256th in D-1. Xavier is 266th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.5 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 45%, which is 33rd in the country.

Advanced Statistics

UNI is 158th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.9 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 42%, which is 6th in the nation. The Panthers are 255th in the country in offensive rating with 100.5, and their defensive rating of 86.4 is ranked 11th. In terms of pace they are 312th in Division 1 with 67.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 225th. As a team they are 233rd in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 41% of their shots, ranking 101st in the nation.

Who will win tonight's Xavier/UNI college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Xavier -6.5

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