Connecticut at Houston College Basketball Picks & Predictions 3/4/2018

Sunday, March 4, 2018

H&PE Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Connecticut Huskies travel to H&PE Arena to play the Houston Cougars on Sunday, March 4, 2018. The opening line for this game has Houston as 16 point favorites.

Connecticut comes into this game with an overall record of 14-16. They currently have a point differential of -4.7 as they are averaging 67.9 points per game while giving up 72.6 per contest. Houston has an overall record of 23-6. They are averaging 77.9 points per game and surrendering 65.0, good for a point differential of 12.9.

Valuable Connecticut Huskies Betting Trends

The Connecticut Huskies are 9-18 against the spread this season

The Connecticut Huskies are 14-13 against the over/under this year

Important Houston Cougars Betting Trends

The Houston Cougars are 15-9 against the spread this season

The Houston Cougars are 9-15 against the over/under this year

Key Connecticut Huskies Injuries

12/23/17 G Alterique Gilbert Shoulder is out for season
11/07/17 G Sidney Wilson Eligibility is out indefinitely

Key Houston Cougars Injuries

03/03/18 G Wes VanBeck Hand is "?" Sunday vs Connecticut

Player Spotlight

Jalen Adams averages 18.3 points per game while playing 38 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 4.2 rebounds per game and dishes out 4.6 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is at 81%. Christian Vital averages 14.7 points per game in 31.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.6 assists per contest and 5.4 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 38% for the year while his free throw percentage is 85%.

Player Spotlight

Robert Gray Jr. averages 17.7 points per game while playing 30.9 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 3.3 rebounds per game and has 4.7 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is at 83%. Corey Davis Jr. averages 13.3 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 29.4 minutes per contest. He also averages 3.1 rebounds per contest and 2.7 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is 78%.

Useful Team Statistics

Connecticut averages 67.9 points per contest this season, which ranks them 302nd in the nation. Their average scoring margin is -4.7 and their shooting percentage is 41% as a team, which has them ranked 325th. Behind the arc they shoot 33%, which is good for 293rd in the country. They average 34.4 rebounds per game and 10.4 assists per game, which ranks them 230th and 342nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 220th with 12.5 per game. The Huskies allow 72.6 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 186th in Division 1. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 136th and 261st in those defensive categories. Opponents average 37.0 rebounds a game which ranks 279th and they give up 14.0 assists per contest, which puts them in 230th place in college basketball. They force 12.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 123rd in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Houston is 75th in the country with 77.9 points per game this year. They are 73rd in D-1 in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 12.9. They shoot 39% from 3-point range, which is good for 27th in college basketball. They are 20th in the nation in rebounding with 39.3 boards per game, and 61st in assists per contest with 15.6. The Cougars are 231st in turnovers per game with 12.4. The Cougars surrender 65.0 points per contest, which ranks them 23rd in the country. Their defense allows a 39% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 7th and 58th in those defensive statistics. They rank 30th with 11.1 assists allowed per contest and 34th with 31.6 rebounds surrendered per game. The Cougars are 197th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 13.4 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Huskies are 292nd in the nation in offensive rating with 99.3, and their defensive rating of 106.2 is ranked 259th. In terms of pace they are 283rd in the country with 67.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 47% is 329th. As a team they are 310th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 51% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 210th in Division 1. Connecticut is 191st in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.7 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 201st in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Houston is 233rd in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 46%, which is 9th in Division 1. The Cougars are 14th in the nation in defensive rating with 94.5, and their offensive rating of 113.2 is ranked 31st. They are 224th in D-1 in pace with 68.8 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 62nd. As a unit they are 77th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shot attempts, ranking 150th in the country.

Who will win tonight's Connecticut/Houston college basketball game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Houston -16

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Josh Schonwald