Central Michigan at Buffalo College Basketball Picks & Predictions 3/8/2018

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Quicken Loans Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Central Michigan Chippewas travel to Quicken Loans Arena to play the Buffalo Bulls on Thursday, March 8, 2018. The opening line for this game has Buffalo as 8.5 point favorites.

Central Michigan heads into this matchup with a mark of 17-13. They currently have a point differential of 6.0 as they are averaging 78.1 points per contest while giving up 72.0 per game. Buffalo has an overall mark of 23-8. They are averaging 85.2 points per contest and giving up 76.7, which is a point differential of 8.5.

Valuable Central Michigan Chippewas Betting Trends

The Central Michigan Chippewas are 16-9 against the spread this season

The Central Michigan Chippewas are 14-10 against the over/under this year

Important Buffalo Bulls Betting Trends

The Buffalo Bulls are 13-11 against the spread this season

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

Key Central Michigan Chippewas Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Buffalo Bulls Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Shawn Roundtree averages 15.2 points per game while playing 32.7 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 2.8 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.9 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 48% while his free throw percentage is at 85%. Cecil Williams averages 15.2 points per game in 30.2 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.6 assists per contest and 6.3 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 47% for the year while his free throw percentage is 76%.

Player Spotlight

C.J. Massinburg averages 17.4 points per game while playing 33.9 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 7.5 rebounds per game and has 2.5 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is at 75%. Nick Perkins averages 16.7 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 27.8 minutes per contest. He also averages 6.2 rebounds per contest and 0.8 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 74%.

Useful Team Statistics

Central Michigan averages 78.1 points per contest this season, which ranks them 72nd in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 6.0 and their shooting percentage is 43% as a team, which has them ranked 251st. Behind the arc they shoot 34%, which is good for 231st in the country. They average 36.6 rebounds per game and 13.3 assists per game, which ranks them 106th and 198th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 278th with 11.8 per game. The Chippewas allow 72.0 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 171st in Division 1. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the arc, ranking them 151st and 121st in those defensive categories. Opponents average 35.3 rebounds a game which ranks 204th and they give up 12.6 assists per contest, which puts them in 113th place in college basketball. They force 13.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 211th in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Buffalo is 5th in the country with 85.2 points per game this year. They are 39th in D-1 in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 8.5. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 85th in college basketball. They are 37th in the nation in rebounding with 38.6 boards per game, and 13th in assists per contest with 17.1. The Bulls are 182nd in turnovers per game with 12.9. The Bulls surrender 76.7 points per contest, which ranks them 287th in the country. Their defense allows a 43% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 122nd and 120th in those defensive statistics. They rank 61st with 11.7 assists allowed per contest and 256th with 36.4 rebounds surrendered per game. The Bulls are 264th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 14.1 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Chippewas are 60th in the nation in offensive rating with 110.8, and their defensive rating of 102.2 is ranked 169th. In terms of pace they are 202nd in the country with 69.1 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 173rd. As a team they are 116th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 47% of their shots, ranking 15th in Division 1. Central Michigan is 302nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.7 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 169th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Buffalo is 277th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 49%, which is 76th in the nation. The Bulls are 32nd in the country in offensive rating with 112.9, and their defensive rating of 101.7 is ranked 148th. In terms of pace they are 20th in Division 1 with 74.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 55% is 35th. As a team they are 58th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 41% of their shots, ranking 85th in the nation.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Buffalo -8.5

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