Youngstown State at Butler College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/9/2017

Saturday, December 9, 2017

Hinkle Fieldhouse

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Youngstown State Penguins head to Hinkle Fieldhouse to take on the Butler Bulldogs on Saturday, December 9, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Butler as 26.5 point favorites.

Youngstown State comes into this game with an overall record of 2-7. They currently have a point differential of -3.1 as they are averaging 79.8 points per game while giving up 82.9 per contest. Butler has an overall mark of 7-2. They are averaging 72.9 points per contest and giving up 65.9, which is a point differential of 7.0.

Valuable Youngstown State Penguins Betting Trends

The Youngstown State Penguins are 1-5 against the spread this season

The Youngstown State Penguins are 3-3 against the over/under this year

Important Butler Bulldogs Betting Trends

The Butler Bulldogs are 5-3 against the spread this season

The Butler Bulldogs are 3-5 against the over/under this year

Key Youngstown State Penguins Injuries

12/01/17 G Francisco Santiago Knee is out indefinitely

Key Butler Bulldogs Injuries

11/29/17 G Sean McDermott Ankle is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Braun Hartfield averages 15.3 points per contest while playing 31.8 minutes per night this year. He grabs 4.1 rebounds per contest and distributes 2.8 assists per game. His FG percentage is 44% while his free throw percentage is 52%. Cameron Morse averages 14.1 points per contest in 28.4 minutes per game this year. He averages 3.4 assists per game and 2.2 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 35% for the season while his free throw percentage is 75%.

Player Spotlight

Kelan Martin scores 17.9 points per contest while playing 35.8 minutes per game this season. He hauls in 7.9 rebounds per contest and has 1.1 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is at 86%. Kamar Baldwin averages 12.8 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 31.9 minutes per game. He also brings in 4.1 rebounds per game and has 2.8 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is 62%.

Useful Team Statistics

Youngstown State averages 79.8 points per contest this year, which is 91st in the nation. Their average scoring margin is -3.1 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a unit, which has them ranked 215th. From 3-point territory they shoot 31%, which is good for 292nd in Division 1. They average 38.0 boards per contest and 15.9 assists per game, which ranks them 115th and 80th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 52nd with 15.8 per game. The Penguins allow 82.9 points per contest, which is 331st in the country. They also surrender a 51% shooting percentage and a 38% average from 3-point range, ranking them 349th and 293rd in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 35.9 rebounds a game which ranks 218th, and they allow 17.2 assists per game which puts them in 328th place in college basketball. They force 19.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 341st in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Butler is 220th in the country with 72.9 points per contest this season. They are 133rd in the nation in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 7.0. They shoot 31% from beyond the arc, which is good for 298th in Division 1. They are 288th in the country in rebounding with 33.6 boards per contest and 281st in assists per game with 12.2. The Bulldogs are 287th in turnovers per contest with 12.0. The Bulldogs give up 65.9 points per game, which ranks them 62nd in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 44% shooting percentage and a 41% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 182nd and 332nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 47th with 11.0 dimes allowed per game and 56th with 31.9 boards surrendered per contest. The Bulldogs are 271st in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 15.8 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Penguins are 241st in the country in defensive rating with 103.2, and their offensive rating of 99.3 is ranked 259th. They are 8th in college basketball in pace with 80.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 49% is 263rd. As a unit they are 313th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 50% and they shoot 3-pointers on 31% of their shot attempts, ranking 298th in D-1. Youngstown State is 179th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 21.7 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 57%, which is 341st in the country.

Advanced Statistics

Butler is 250th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 20.6 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 226th in Division 1. The Bulldogs are 87th in the nation in defensive rating with 94.7, and their offensive rating of 104.8 is ranked 182nd. They are 280th in D-1 in pace with 68.6 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 163rd. As a unit they are 183rd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shot attempts, ranking 175th in the country.

Who will win tonight's Youngstown State/Butler college basketball game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Youngstown State +26.5

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