Ball State at Northern Illinois College Basketball Picks & Predictions 3/2/2018

Friday, March 2, 2018

NIU Convocation Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Ball State Cardinals travel to NIU Convocation Center to play the Northern Illinois Huskies on Friday, March 2, 2018. The opening line for this game has Ball State as 4 point favorites.

Ball State heads into this matchup with a mark of 19-11. They currently have a point differential of 1.7 as they are averaging 75.7 points per contest while giving up 74.0 per game. Northern Illinois has an overall mark of 12-18. They are averaging 73.1 points per contest and giving up 76.0, which is a point differential of -2.9.

Valuable Ball State Cardinals Betting Trends

The Ball State Cardinals are 10-14 against the spread this season

The Ball State Cardinals are 11-13 against the over/under this year

Important Northern Illinois Huskies Betting Trends

The Northern Illinois Huskies are 12-13 against the spread this season

The Northern Illinois Huskies are 14-11 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 Northern Illinois Huskies Injuries

02/17/18 F Jaylen Key Shoulder is out for season

Player Spotlight

Tayler Persons averages 14.6 points per game while playing 29.5 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 3.3 rebounds per game and dishes out 4.3 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage is at 69%. Tahjai Teague averages 11.8 points per game in 25 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.2 assists per contest and 7.4 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 53% for the year while his free throw percentage is 64%.

Player Spotlight

Eugene German averages 20.7 points per game while playing 30.6 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 3.9 rebounds per game and has 1.7 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 77%. Levi Bradley averages 14.3 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 29.3 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.1 rebounds per contest and 0.8 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is 85%.

Useful Team Statistics

Ball State averages 75.7 points per contest this season, which ranks them 128th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 1.7 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 137th. Behind the arc they shoot 34%, which is good for 214th in the country. They average 37.6 rebounds per game and 14.4 assists per game, which ranks them 77th and 127th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 137th with 13.4 per game. The Cardinals allow 74.0 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 219th in Division 1. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 104th and 243rd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 35.7 rebounds a game which ranks 222nd and they give up 13.5 assists per contest, which puts them in 186th place in college basketball. They force 12.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 90th in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Northern Illinois is 202nd in the country with 73.1 points per game this year. They are 98th in D-1 in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is -2.9. They shoot 33% from 3-point range, which is good for 300th in college basketball. They are 259th in the nation in rebounding with 33.8 boards per game, and 351st in assists per contest with 9.5. The Huskies are 272nd in turnovers per game with 12.0. The Huskies surrender 76.0 points per contest, which ranks them 273rd in the country. Their defense allows a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 292nd and 269th in those defensive statistics. They rank 286th with 14.9 assists allowed per contest and 183rd with 34.9 rebounds surrendered per game. The Huskies are 141st in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 12.7 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Cardinals are 177th in the country in defensive rating with 102.5, and their offensive rating of 104.9 is ranked 165th. They are 89th in college basketball in pace with 71.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 146th. As a unit they are 139th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shot attempts, ranking 141st in D-1. Ball State is 144th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.8 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 118th in the country.

Advanced Statistics

Northern Illinois is 262nd in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 54%, which is 313th in Division 1. The Huskies are 303rd in the nation in defensive rating with 108.9, and their offensive rating of 104.8 is ranked 177th. They are 186th in D-1 in pace with 69.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 200th. As a unit they are 177th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 28% of their shot attempts, ranking 335th in the country.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Northern Illinois +4

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Tony Sink