Buffalo at Arizona College Basketball Picks & Predictions 3/15/2018

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Taco Bell Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Buffalo Bulls head to Taco Bell Arena to take on the Arizona Wildcats on Thursday, March 15, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Arizona as 8 point favorites.

Buffalo comes into this game with an overall record of 23-8. They currently have a point differential of 8.9 as they are averaging 84.8 points per game while giving up 75.9 per contest. Arizona has an overall mark of 24-7. They are averaging 80.9 points per contest and giving up 71.2, which is a point differential of 9.7.

Valuable Buffalo Bulls Betting Trends

The Buffalo Bulls are 16-11 against the spread this season

The Buffalo Bulls are 17-10 against the over/under this year

Important Arizona Wildcats Betting Trends

The Arizona Wildcats are 13-19 against the spread this season

The Arizona Wildcats are 15-14 against the over/under this year

Key Buffalo Bulls Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Arizona Wildcats Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

C.J. Massinburg averages 16.9 points per contest while playing 33.9 minutes per night this year. He grabs 7.4 rebounds per contest and distributes 2.5 assists per game. His FG percentage is 62% while his free throw percentage is 74%. Nick Perkins averages 16.6 points per contest in 27.5 minutes per game this year. He averages 0.8 assists per game and 6.2 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 48% for the season while his free throw percentage is 74%.

Player Spotlight

DeAndre Ayton scores 20.3 points per contest while playing 33.4 minutes per game this season. He hauls in 11.5 rebounds per contest and has 1.6 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 62% and his free throw percentage is at 74%. Allonzo Trier averages 18.4 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 34.2 minutes per game. He also brings in 3.1 rebounds per game and has 3.3 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 51% and his free throw percentage is 86%.

Useful Team Statistics

Buffalo averages 84.8 points per contest this year, which is 7th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 8.9 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a unit, which has them ranked 42nd. From 3-point territory they shoot 37%, which is good for 77th in Division 1. They average 39.0 boards per contest and 16.9 assists per game, which ranks them 22nd and 13th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 212th with 12.5 per game. The Bulls allow 75.9 points per contest, which is 268th in the country. They also surrender a 43% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 87th and 76th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 36.5 rebounds a game which ranks 263rd, and they allow 11.4 assists per game which puts them in 43rd place in college basketball. They force 13.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 252nd in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Arizona is 41st in the country with 80.9 points per contest this season. They are 4th in the nation in shooting at 51%, while their average scoring margin is 9.7. They shoot 38% from beyond the arc, which is good for 55th in Division 1. They are 105th in the country in rebounding with 36.6 boards per contest and 71st in assists per game with 15.2. The Wildcats are 238th in turnovers per contest with 12.3. The Wildcats give up 71.2 points per game, which ranks them 148th in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 43% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 123rd and 192nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 115th with 12.6 dimes allowed per game and 4th with 29.0 boards surrendered per contest. The Wildcats are 64th in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 11.6 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Bulls are 132nd in the country in defensive rating with 101.3, and their offensive rating of 113.2 is ranked 26th. They are 20th in college basketball in pace with 74.1 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 55% is 39th. As a unit they are 62nd in the nation in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shot attempts, ranking 97th in D-1. Buffalo is 297th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 48%, which is 54th in the country.

Advanced Statistics

Arizona is 221st in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.8 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 49%, which is 104th in Division 1. The Wildcats are 166th in the nation in defensive rating with 102.1, and their offensive rating of 116 is ranked 11th. They are 224th in D-1 in pace with 68.7 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 57% is 16th. As a unit they are 11th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 60% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shot attempts, ranking 297th in the country.

Who will win tonight's Buffalo/Arizona college basketball game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Buffalo +8

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