BYU at Portland College Basketball Picks & Predictions 2/22/2018

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Chiles Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The BYU Cougars head to Chiles Center to take on the Portland Pilots on Thursday, February 22, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has BYU as 8 point favorites.

BYU heads into this matchup with a mark of 21-8. They currently have a point differential of 8.1 as they are averaging 74.3 points per contest while giving up 66.3 per game. Portland has an overall mark of 10-19. They are averaging 69.8 points per contest and giving up 74.0, which is a point differential of -4.2.

Valuable BYU Cougars Betting Trends

The BYU Cougars are 12-13 against the spread this season

The BYU Cougars are 12-14 against the over/under this year

Important Portland Pilots Betting Trends

The Portland Pilots are 14-9 against the spread this season

The Portland Pilots are 12-12 against the over/under this year

Key BYU Cougars Injuries

12/26/17 F Braiden Shaw Foot is out for season
12/26/17 G Kajon Brown Left Team is out for season
11/07/17 G Nick Emery Left Team is out for season
11/05/17 F Ryan Andrus Knee is out for season

Key Portland Pilots Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Elijah Bryant averages 17.7 points per contest while playing 34.4 minutes per night this year. He grabs 6.6 rebounds per contest and distributes 2.4 assists per game. His FG percentage is 40% while his free throw percentage is 87%. Yoeli Childs averages 17.4 points per contest in 33.9 minutes per game this year. He averages 2.4 assists per game and 8.6 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 54% for the season while his free throw percentage is 64%.

Player Spotlight

Marcus Shaver scores 11.9 points per contest while playing 28.1 minutes per game this season. He hauls in 3.3 rebounds per contest and has 2.3 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 40% and his free throw percentage is at 85%. Josh McSwiggan averages 10.9 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 30.5 minutes per game. He also brings in 3.8 rebounds per game and has 1.2 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is 85%.

Useful Team Statistics

BYU averages 74.3 points per contest this year, which is 166th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 8.1 and their shooting percentage is 49% as a unit, which has them ranked 24th. From 3-point territory they shoot 36%, which is good for 138th in Division 1. They average 33.0 boards per contest and 15.8 assists per game, which ranks them 299th and 53rd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 260th with 12.2 per game. The Cougars allow 66.3 points per contest, which is 39th in the country. They also surrender a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 205th and 100th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 30.6 rebounds a game which ranks 19th, and they allow 12.9 assists per game which puts them in 134th place in college basketball. They force 12.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 149th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Portland is 273rd in the country with 69.8 points per contest this season. They are 185th in the nation in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is -4.2. They shoot 38% from beyond the arc, which is good for 47th in Division 1. They are 326th in the country in rebounding with 32.1 boards per contest and 290th in assists per game with 12.1. The Pilots are 276th in turnovers per contest with 11.9. The Pilots give up 74.0 points per game, which ranks them 227th in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 43% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 140th and 141st in those defensive statistics. They rank 301st with 15.2 dimes allowed per game and 287th with 37.1 boards surrendered per contest. The Pilots are 25th in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 11.1 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Cougars are 48th in the country in defensive rating with 97, and their offensive rating of 108.8 is ranked 94th. They are 280th in college basketball in pace with 67.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 55% is 43rd. As a unit they are 32nd in the nation in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 239th in D-1. BYU is 172nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 191st in the country.

Advanced Statistics

Portland is 219th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.8 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 183rd in Division 1. The Pilots are 282nd in the nation in defensive rating with 107.1, and their offensive rating of 101 is ranked 265th. They are 239th in D-1 in pace with 68.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 156th. As a unit they are 169th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shot attempts, ranking 157th in the country.

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

Josh's Pick: Take BYU -8

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