Buffalo at Kentucky College Basketball Picks & Predictions 3/17/2018

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Taco Bell Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Buffalo Bulls travel to Taco Bell Arena to play the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday, March 17, 2018. The opening line for this game has Kentucky as 6 point favorites.

Buffalo comes into this game with an overall record of 27-8. They currently have a point differential of 9.3 as they are averaging 84.9 points per game while giving up 75.6 per contest. Kentucky has an overall mark of 25-10. They are averaging 76.8 points per contest and giving up 70.4, which is a point differential of 6.4.

Valuable Buffalo Bulls Betting Trends

The Buffalo Bulls are 17-11 against the spread this season

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

Important Kentucky Wildcats Betting Trends

The Kentucky Wildcats are 17-17 against the spread this season

The Kentucky Wildcats are 18-13 against the over/under this year

Key Buffalo Bulls Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Kentucky Wildcats Injuries

11/06/17 G Jemarl Baker Knee is out for season
03/15/18 F Jarred Vanderbilt Ankle is "?" Saturday vs Buffalo
02/05/18 F Tai Wynyard Suspension is out for season

Player Spotlight

Nick Perkins averages 16.5 points per game in 27.4 minutes per contest this season. He averages 0.8 assists per contest and 6.1 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 48% for the year while his free throw percentage is 74%. C.J. Massinburg averages 16.9 points per game while playing 33.9 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 7.3 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.5 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is at 74%.

Player Spotlight

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averages 14 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 33.4 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.1 rebounds per contest and 5.1 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is 82%. Kevin Knox averages 15.9 points per game while playing 32.5 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 5.4 rebounds per game and has 1.4 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is at 77%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Bulls allow 75.6 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 263rd in the nation. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the arc, ranking them 92nd and 43rd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 36.3 rebounds a game which ranks 253rd, and they give up 11.4 assists per contest, which puts them in 41st place in the country. They force 13.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 242nd in college basketball. Buffalo averages 84.9 points per contest this season, which ranks them 6th in Division 1. Their average scoring margin is 9.3 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 39th. Behind the arc they shoot 38% which is good for 59th in D-1. They average 38.8 rebounds per game and 16.8 assists per game, which ranks them 30th and 13th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 221st with 12.5 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Wildcats surrender 70.4 points per contest, which ranks them 127th in the country. Their defense allows a 41% shooting percentage and a 30% average from 3-point range, ranking them 20th and 4th in those defensive statistics. They rank 140th with 12.9 assists allowed per contest, and 116th with 33.7 rebounds surrendered per game. The Wildcats are 81st in the nation in forcing turnovers with 11.9 per game this season. Kentucky is 88th in Division 1 with 76.8 points per game this year. They are 52nd in the country in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 6.4. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 145th in the nation. They are 34th in college basketball in rebounding with 38.6 boards per game and 197th in assists per contest with 13.3. The Wildcats are 177th in turnovers per game with 12.9.

Advanced Statistics

The Bulls are 133rd in the country in defensive rating with 101.3, and their offensive rating of 113.7 is ranked 20th. They are 23rd in college basketball in pace with 73.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 55% is 32nd. As a unit they are 54th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shot attempts, ranking 96th in D-1. Buffalo is 301st in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 48%, which is 53rd in the country.

Advanced Statistics

Kentucky is 205th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.5 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 47%, which is 27th in Division 1. The Wildcats are 105th in the nation in defensive rating with 100.5, and their offensive rating of 109.6 is ranked 74th. They are 167th in D-1 in pace with 69.8 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 155th. As a unit they are 119th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 26% of their shot attempts, ranking 345th in the country.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Kentucky -6

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