BYU at St. Mary's College Basketball Picks & Predictions 3/5/2018

Monday, March 5, 2018

Orleans Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The BYU Cougars head to Orleans Arena to take on the St. Mary's Gaels on Monday, March 5, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has St. Mary's as 4.5 point favorites.

BYU heads into this matchup with a mark of 22-9. They currently have a point differential of 7.4 as they are averaging 74.3 points per contest while giving up 66.9 per game. St. Mary's has an overall mark of 27-4. They are averaging 77.1 points per contest and giving up 63.8, which is a point differential of 13.3.

Valuable BYU Cougars Betting Trends

The BYU Cougars are 14-14 against the spread this season

The BYU Cougars are 13-15 against the over/under this year

Important St. Mary's Gaels Betting Trends

The St. Mary's Gaels are 12-16 against the spread this season

The St. Mary's Gaels are 6-20 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 St. Mary's Gaels Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Elijah Bryant averages 17.9 points per contest while playing 34.4 minutes per night this year. He grabs 6.4 rebounds per contest and distributes 2.4 assists per game. His FG percentage is 64% while his free throw percentage is 87%. Yoeli Childs averages 17.5 points per contest in 33.9 minutes per game this year. He averages 2.3 assists per game and 8.7 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 54% for the season while his free throw percentage is 63%.

Player Spotlight

Jock Landale scores 21.3 points per contest while playing 33.4 minutes per game this season. He hauls in 10.5 rebounds per contest and has 2.1 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 64% and his free throw percentage is at 76%. Calvin Hermanson averages 11 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 31.8 minutes per game. He also brings in 3.3 rebounds per game and has 1.2 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 81%.

Useful Team Statistics

BYU averages 74.3 points per contest this year, which is 168th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 7.4 and their shooting percentage is 49% as a unit, which has them ranked 25th. From 3-point territory they shoot 35%, which is good for 165th in Division 1. They average 32.9 boards per contest and 15.4 assists per game, which ranks them 302nd and 70th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 283rd with 11.8 per game. The Cougars allow 66.9 points per contest, which is 43rd in the country. They also surrender a 45% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 219th and 77th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 30.7 rebounds a game which ranks 16th, and they allow 12.7 assists per game which puts them in 122nd place in college basketball. They force 12.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 148th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

St. Mary's is 83rd in the country with 77.1 points per contest this season. They are 1st in the nation in shooting at 52%, while their average scoring margin is 13.3. They shoot 41% from beyond the arc, which is good for 10th in Division 1. They are 274th in the country in rebounding with 33.6 boards per contest and 53rd in assists per game with 15.8. The Gaels are 349th in turnovers per contest with 9.7. The Gaels give up 63.8 points per game, which ranks them 11th in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 44% shooting percentage and a 32% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 156th and 30th in those defensive statistics. They rank 62nd with 11.7 dimes allowed per game and 1st with 28.0 boards surrendered per contest. The Gaels are 2nd in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 9.8 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Cougars are 59th in the country in defensive rating with 98.2, and their offensive rating of 109.1 is ranked 89th. They are 279th in college basketball in pace with 67.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 55% is 51st. As a unit they are 36th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 251st in D-1. BYU is 212th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 204th in the country.

Advanced Statistics

St. Mary's is 330th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.5 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 48%, which is 65th in Division 1. The Gaels are 78th in the nation in defensive rating with 99, and their offensive rating of 119.6 is ranked 3rd. They are 346th in D-1 in pace with 64 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 59% is 5th. As a unit they are 4th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 62% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 249th in the country.

Who will win tonight's BYU/St. Mary's college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take BYU +4.5

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