Bucknell at Michigan State College Basketball Picks & Predictions 3/16/2018

Friday, March 16, 2018

Little Caesars Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Bucknell Bison head to Little Caesars Arena to take on the Michigan State Spartans on Friday, March 16, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Michigan State as 14 point favorites.

Bucknell comes into this game with an overall record of 22-9. They currently have a point differential of 8.3 as they are averaging 81.1 points per game while giving up 72.9 per contest. Michigan State has an overall mark of 28-3. They are averaging 81.0 points per contest and giving up 64.8, which is a point differential of 16.2.

Valuable Bucknell Bison Betting Trends

The Bucknell Bison are 5-5 against the spread this season

The Bucknell Bison are 4-3 against the over/under this year

Important Michigan State Spartans Betting Trends

The Michigan State Spartans are 15-16 against the spread this season

The Michigan State Spartans are 15-15 against the over/under this year

Key Bucknell Bison Injuries

03/11/18 F Bruce Moore Suspension is questionable Friday vs Michigan State
03/04/18 C Paul Newman Suspension is out indefinitely
01/15/18 G Matt O'Reilly Foot is out indefinitely

Key Michigan State Spartans Injuries

11/08/17 G Kyle Ahrens Foot is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Zach Thomas averages 20.3 points per contest while playing 31.9 minutes per night this year. He grabs 9.2 rebounds per contest and distributes 2.2 assists per game. His FG percentage is 46% while his free throw percentage is 77%. Nana Foulland averages 15.4 points per contest in 28.5 minutes per game this year. He averages 1.3 assists per game and 7.1 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 60% for the season while his free throw percentage is 56%.

Player Spotlight

Miles Bridges scores 16.9 points per contest while playing 31.2 minutes per game this season. He hauls in 6.9 rebounds per contest and has 2.8 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is at 88%. Nick Ward averages 12.6 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 19.1 minutes per game. He also brings in 7.2 rebounds per game and has 0.5 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 66% and his free throw percentage is 62%.

Useful Team Statistics

Bucknell averages 81.1 points per contest this year, which is 35th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 8.3 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a unit, which has them ranked 46th. From 3-point territory they shoot 34%, which is good for 208th in Division 1. They average 36.9 boards per contest and 14.5 assists per game, which ranks them 97th and 113th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 204th with 12.6 per game. The Bison allow 72.9 points per contest, which is 187th in the country. They also surrender a 42% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 76th and 82nd in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 35.3 rebounds a game which ranks 208th, and they allow 12.6 assists per game which puts them in 109th place in college basketball. They force 12.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 133rd in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Michigan State is 40th in the country with 81.0 points per contest this season. They are 5th in the nation in shooting at 50%, while their average scoring margin is 16.2. They shoot 41% from beyond the arc, which is good for 5th in Division 1. They are 8th in the country in rebounding with 40.8 boards per contest and 1st in assists per game with 19.3. The Spartans are 153rd in turnovers per contest with 13.2. The Spartans give up 64.8 points per game, which ranks them 20th in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 37% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 1st and 91st in those defensive statistics. They rank 85th with 12.2 dimes allowed per game and 10th with 30.3 boards surrendered per contest. The Spartans are 6th in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 10.0 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Bison are 64th in the nation in offensive rating with 110.2, and their defensive rating of 99 is ranked 72nd. In terms of pace they are 43rd in the country with 72.6 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 64th. As a team they are 52nd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shots, ranking 124th in Division 1. Bucknell is 243rd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 48%, which is 42nd in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Michigan State is 129th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.6 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 43%, which is 1st in Division 1. The Spartans are 12th in the nation in defensive rating with 94.5, and their offensive rating of 118.1 is ranked 6th. They are 240th in D-1 in pace with 68.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 58% is 9th. As a unit they are 6th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 61% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 217th in the country.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Bucknell +14

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