Creighton at Providence College Basketball Picks & Predictions 3/8/2018

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Madison Square Garden

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Creighton Bluejays travel to Madison Square Garden to play the Providence Friars on Thursday, March 8, 2018. The opening line for this game has Creighton as 4 point favorites.

Creighton comes into this game with an overall record of 21-10. They currently have a point differential of 10.5 as they are averaging 84.8 points per game while giving up 74.3 per contest. Providence has an overall mark of 19-12. They are averaging 74.0 points per contest and giving up 72.7, which is a point differential of 1.2.

Valuable Creighton Bluejays Betting Trends

The Creighton Bluejays are 14-15 against the spread this season

The Creighton Bluejays are 16-13 against the over/under this year

Important Providence Friars Betting Trends

The Providence Friars are 11-18 against the spread this season

The Providence Friars are 15-14 against the over/under this year

Key Creighton Bluejays Injuries

03/06/18 C Jacob Epperson Knee is "?" Thursday vs Providence
03/06/18 G Ronnie Harrell Jr. Foot is "?" Thursday vs Providence
01/18/18 F Martin Krampelj ACL is out for season

Key Providence Friars Injuries

11/15/17 F Emmitt Holt Abdominal is out for season

Player Spotlight

Marcus Foster averages 20.3 points per game while playing 31.2 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 3.8 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.7 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 44% while his free throw percentage is at 78%. Khyri Thomas averages 15.5 points per game in 31.2 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.8 assists per contest and 4.2 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 55% for the year while his free throw percentage is 79%.

Player Spotlight

Rodney Bullock averages 14.1 points per game while playing 32 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 5.8 rebounds per game and has 1.2 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is at 73%. Alpha Diallo averages 12.3 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 29.7 minutes per contest. He also averages 6.4 rebounds per contest and 2.2 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is 73%.

Useful Team Statistics

Creighton averages 84.8 points per contest this season, which ranks them 9th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 10.5 and their shooting percentage is 50% as a team, which has them ranked 10th. Behind the arc they shoot 38%, which is good for 52nd in the country. They average 36.2 rebounds per game and 18.1 assists per game, which ranks them 132nd and 5th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 320th with 11.1 per game. The Bluejays allow 74.3 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 230th in Division 1. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the arc, ranking them 153rd and 81st in those defensive categories. Opponents average 34.8 rebounds a game which ranks 181st and they give up 14.2 assists per contest, which puts them in 243rd place in college basketball. They force 11.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 73rd in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Providence is 174th in the country with 74.0 points per game this year. They are 183rd in D-1 in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 1.2. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 197th in college basketball. They are 167th in the nation in rebounding with 35.5 boards per game, and 159th in assists per contest with 13.9. The Friars are 197th in turnovers per game with 12.7. The Friars surrender 72.7 points per contest, which ranks them 187th in the country. Their defense allows a 45% shooting percentage and a 32% average from 3-point range, ranking them 220th and 39th in those defensive statistics. They rank 115th with 12.6 assists allowed per contest and 212th with 35.4 rebounds surrendered per game. The Friars are 225th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 13.6 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Bluejays are 127th in the country in defensive rating with 101, and their offensive rating of 115.3 is ranked 18th. They are 35th in college basketball in pace with 73.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 59% is 4th. As a unit they are 10th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 61% and they shoot 3-pointers on 45% of their shot attempts, ranking 32nd in D-1. Creighton is 322nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.3 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 131st in the country.

Advanced Statistics

Providence is 211th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.8 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 189th in Division 1. The Friars are 183rd in the nation in defensive rating with 102.6, and their offensive rating of 104.4 is ranked 188th. They are 139th in D-1 in pace with 70.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 50% is 220th. As a unit they are 200th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shot attempts, ranking 286th in the country.

Who will win tonight's Creighton/Providence college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Providence +4

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