Columbia at Rutgers College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/22/2018

Saturday, December 22, 2018

Louis Brown Athletic Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Columbia Lions travel to Louis Brown Athletic Center to play the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Saturday, December 22, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Rutgers as 14 point favorites.

Columbia heads into this matchup with a mark of 3-7. They currently have a point differential of 3.1 as they are averaging 78.5 points per contest while giving up 75.4 per game. Rutgers has an overall record of 5-5. They are averaging 69.1 points per game and surrendering 63.6, good for a point differential of 5.5.

Valuable Columbia Lions Betting Trends

The Columbia Lions are 4-5-0 against the spread

The Columbia Lions are 6-3-0 against the over/under

Important Rutgers Scarlet Knights Betting Trends

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are 6-4-0 against the spread

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are 5-4-1 against the over/under

Key Columbia Lions Injuries

12/21/18 G Mike Smith Knee is out for season

Key Rutgers Scarlet Knights Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Gabe Stefanini averages 14.9 points per game in 29.4 minutes per contest. He averages 3.6 assists per contest and 3.9 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 50% for the year while his free throw percentage is 80%. Mike Smith comes into this contest averaging 15.8 points per game while playing 31.8 minutes per night. He pulls down 2.5 rebounds per game and dishes out 5.0 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage is at 83%.

Player Spotlight

Geo Baker averages 14.5 points per game and he sees the court an average of 33.4 minutes per contest. He also averages 3.3 rebounds per contest and 4.6 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 40% and his free throw percentage is 71%. Eugene Omoruyi averages 15.7 points per game while playing 30.1 minutes per contest. He grabs 9.1 rebounds per game and has 2.1 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 68%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Lions allow 75.4 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 261st in Division 1. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 38% average from behind the arc, ranking them 241st and 315th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 35.6 rebounds a game which ranks 200th, and they give up 13.2 assists per contest which puts them in 190th place in the NCAA. They force 14.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 224th in the nation. Columbia averages 78.5 points per contest this season, which ranks them 92nd in the country. Their average scoring margin is 3.1 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 157th. Behind the arc they shoot 38% which is good for 58th in D-1. They average 36.6 rebounds per game and 18.7 assists per contest, which ranks them 174th and 9th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 258th with 12.4 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Scarlet Knights surrender 63.6 points per contest, which ranks them 35th in the NCAA. Their defense allows a 41% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 84th and 214th in those defensive statistics. They rank 63rd with 11.2 assists allowed per contest, and 193rd with 35.5 rebounds surrendered per game. The Scarlet Knights are 134th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 13.4 per game. Rutgers is 295th in the country with 69.1 points per game this year. They are 300th in the D-1 in shooting at 41%, while their average scoring margin is 5.5. They shoot 34% from 3-point range, which is good for 204th in the nation. They are 28th in the country in rebounding with 40.9 boards per game and 244th in assists per contest with 12.8. The Scarlet Knights are 199th in turnovers per game with 13.2.

Advanced Statistics

The Lions have an offensive rating of 108.3, which is ranked 112th. They are 182nd in college basketball in pace with 70.8 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 106th. As a unit they are 136th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 43% of their shot attempts, ranking 72nd in D-1. Columbia is 268th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Rutgers is 213th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.8 times per 100 possessions. The Scarlet Knights are 244th in the country in offensive rating with 100.6. In terms of pace they are 271st in Division 1 with 68.7 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 47% is 299th. As a team they are 323rd in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 49% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shots, ranking 219th in the nation.

Who will win tonight's Columbia/Rutgers college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Rutgers -14

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