Ball State at Eastern Michigan College Basketball Picks & Predictions 2/3/2018

Saturday, February 3, 2018

Convocation Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Ball State Cardinals travel to Convocation Center to play the Eastern Michigan Eagles on Saturday, February 3, 2018. The opening line for this game has Ball State as 1 point favorites.

Ball State comes into this game with an overall record of 14-8. They currently have a point differential of 1.3 as they are averaging 76.7 points per game while giving up 75.5 per contest. Eastern Michigan has an overall record of 12-10. They are averaging 72.7 points per game and surrendering 69.2, good for a point differential of 3.5.

Valuable Ball State Cardinals Betting Trends

The Ball State Cardinals are 7-9 against the spread this season

The Ball State Cardinals are 7-9 against the over/under this year

Important Eastern Michigan Eagles Betting Trends

The Eastern Michigan Eagles are 8-8 against the spread this season

The Eastern Michigan Eagles are 6-10 against the over/under this year

Key Ball State Cardinals Injuries

01/27/18 G Jeremie Tyler Dismissed is out for season
01/07/18 G Jontrell Walker Legal problems is out indefinitely

Key Eastern Michigan Eagles Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Tayler Persons averages 14.9 points per game while playing 29.3 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 3.6 rebounds per game and dishes out 4.5 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 68% while his free throw percentage is at 72%. Tahjai Teague averages 10.9 points per game in 23.9 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.1 assists per contest and 7 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 52% for the year while his free throw percentage is 68%.

Player Spotlight

James Thompson IV averages 15.5 points per game while playing 34.8 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 12.1 rebounds per game and has 0.4 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 68% and his free throw percentage is at 61%. Elijah Minnie averages 15.3 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 29.9 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.5 rebounds per contest and 1.2 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is 84%.

Useful Team Statistics

Ball State averages 76.7 points per contest this season, which ranks them 110th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 1.3 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 142nd. Behind the arc they shoot 34%, which is good for 219th in the country. They average 37.9 rebounds per game and 14.9 assists per game, which ranks them 78th and 108th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 134th with 13.8 per game. The Cardinals allow 75.5 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 264th in Division 1. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 125th and 267th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 36.3 rebounds a game which ranks 248th and they give up 14.1 assists per contest, which puts them in 240th place in college basketball. They force 12.0 turnovers per game which ranks them 65th in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Eastern Michigan is 216th in the country with 72.7 points per game this year. They are 101st in D-1 in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 3.5. They shoot 33% from 3-point range, which is good for 260th in college basketball. They are 199th in the nation in rebounding with 35.3 boards per game, and 244th in assists per contest with 12.7. The Eagles are 161st in turnovers per game with 13.5. The Eagles surrender 69.2 points per contest, which ranks them 103rd in the country. Their defense allows a 41% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 54th and 197th in those defensive statistics. They rank 308th with 15.5 assists allowed per contest and 207th with 35.5 rebounds surrendered per game. The Eagles are 286th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 15.1 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Cardinals are 218th in the country in defensive rating with 103.3, and their offensive rating of 105 is ranked 161st. They are 87th in college basketball in pace with 71.8 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 128th. As a unit they are 118th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shot attempts, ranking 103rd in D-1. Ball State is 151st in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.5 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 148th in the country.

Advanced Statistics

Eastern Michigan is 136th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 18.6 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 49%, which is 90th in the nation. The Eagles are 177th in the country in offensive rating with 104.5, and their defensive rating of 99.4 is ranked 116th. In terms of pace they are 245th in Division 1 with 68.8 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 137th. As a team they are 169th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 241st in the nation.

Who will win tonight's Ball State/Eastern Michigan college basketball game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Eastern Michigan +1

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