Buffalo at Ball State College Basketball Picks & Predictions 1/6/2018

Saturday, January 6, 2018

Worthen Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Buffalo Bulls travel to Worthen Arena to play the Ball State Cardinals on Saturday, January 6, 2018. The opening line for this game has Ball State as 2.5 point favorites.

Buffalo comes into this game with an overall record of 9-5. They currently have a point differential of 3.4 as they are averaging 82.7 points per game while giving up 79.3 per contest. Ball State has an overall mark of 10-4. They are averaging 77.9 points per contest and giving up 73.7, which is a point differential of 4.2.

Valuable Buffalo Bulls Betting Trends

The Buffalo Bulls are 6-5 against the spread this season

The Buffalo Bulls are 7-4 against the over/under this year

Important Ball State Cardinals Betting Trends

The Ball State Cardinals are 5-3 against the spread this season

The Ball State Cardinals are 4-4 against the over/under this year

Key Buffalo Bulls Injuries

12/19/17 G Dontay Caruthers Foot is out indefinitely

Key Ball State Cardinals Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

C.J. Massinburg averages 20.1 points per game in 33.8 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.4 assists per contest and 7.9 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 46% for the year while his free throw percentage is 80%. Nick Perkins averages 15.4 points per game while playing 28.5 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 6 rebounds per game and dishes out 0.8 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 51% while his free throw percentage is at 79%.

Player Spotlight

Kyle Mallers averages 11.6 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 26.7 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.4 rebounds per contest and 1.1 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is 87%. Tayler Persons averages 14.7 points per game while playing 28.1 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 3.3 rebounds per game and has 4.4 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 51% and his free throw percentage is at 83%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Bulls allow 79.3 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 313th in the nation. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 236th and 282nd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 38.6 rebounds a game which ranks 304th, and they give up 12.6 assists per contest, which puts them in 127th place in the country. They force 16.0 turnovers per game which ranks them 299th in college basketball. Buffalo averages 82.7 points per contest this season, which ranks them 41st in Division 1. Their average scoring margin is 3.4 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a team, which has them ranked 214th. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 170th in D-1. They average 38.1 rebounds per game and 16.0 assists per game, which ranks them 95th and 64th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 149th with 13.8 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Cardinals surrender 73.7 points per contest, which ranks them 216th in the country. Their defense allows a 44% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 188th and 229th in those defensive statistics. They rank 233rd with 14.1 assists allowed per contest, and 152nd with 34.6 rebounds surrendered per game. The Cardinals are 93rd in the nation in forcing turnovers with 12.6 per game this season. Ball State is 106th in Division 1 with 77.9 points per game this year. They are 119th in the country in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 4.2. They shoot 34% from 3-point range, which is good for 237th in the nation. They are 146th in college basketball in rebounding with 37.0 boards per game and 100th in assists per contest with 15.3. The Cardinals are 197th in turnovers per game with 13.1.

Advanced Statistics

The Bulls are 235th in the country in defensive rating with 103.5, and their offensive rating of 108 is ranked 120th. They are 26th in college basketball in pace with 75.2 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 176th. As a unit they are 194th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 43% of their shot attempts, ranking 68th in D-1. Buffalo is 248th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 18.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 185th in the country.

Advanced Statistics

Ball State is 195th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 187th in the nation. The Cardinals are 118th in the country in offensive rating with 108.1, and their defensive rating of 102.3 is ranked 218th. In terms of pace they are 112th in Division 1 with 72.1 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 111th. As a team they are 85th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 42% of their shots, ranking 75th in the nation.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Ball State -2.5

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