Denver at Gonzaga College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/21/2018

Friday, December 21, 2018

McCarthey Athletic Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Denver Pioneers travel to McCarthey Athletic Center to play the Gonzaga Bulldogs on Friday, December 21, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Gonzaga as 29 point favorites.

Denver heads into this matchup with a mark of 5-8. They currently have a point differential of -4.7 as they are averaging 70.4 points per contest while giving up 75.1 per game. Gonzaga has an overall record of 10-2. They are averaging 93.3 points per game and surrendering 76.8, good for a point differential of 16.6.

Valuable Denver Pioneers Betting Trends

The Denver Pioneers are 3-9-0 against the spread

The Denver Pioneers are 6-6-0 against the over/under

Important Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Trends

The Gonzaga Bulldogs are 8-4-0 against the spread

The Gonzaga Bulldogs are 8-4-0 against the over/under

Key Denver Pioneers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Gonzaga Bulldogs Injuries

11/26/18 G Geno Crandall Hand is out indefinitely
10/31/18 F Killian Tillie Ankle is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Joe Rosga averages 12.6 points per game in 31.2 minutes per contest. He averages 2.8 assists per contest and 3.3 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 39% for the year while his free throw percentage is 83%. Ronnie Harrell comes into this contest averaging 14.3 points per game while playing 28.9 minutes per night. He pulls down 5.2 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 56% while his free throw percentage is at 81%.

Player Spotlight

Zach Norvell Jr. averages 17.2 points per game and he sees the court an average of 31.1 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.0 rebounds per contest and 3.3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is 83%. Rui Hachimura averages 21.6 points per game while playing 30.7 minutes per contest. He grabs 6.8 rebounds per game and has 1.8 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 56% and his free throw percentage is at 72%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Pioneers allow 75.1 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 254th in Division 1. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 40% average from behind the arc, ranking them 256th and 344th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 33.2 rebounds a game which ranks 89th, and they give up 13.7 assists per contest which puts them in 222nd place in the NCAA. They force 11.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 48th in the nation. Denver averages 70.4 points per contest this season, which ranks them 274th in the country. Their average scoring margin is -4.7 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 193rd. Behind the arc they shoot 40% which is good for 20th in D-1. They average 35.2 rebounds per game and 12.7 assists per contest, which ranks them 233rd and 251st in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 98th with 14.6 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Bulldogs surrender 76.8 points per contest, which ranks them 278th in the NCAA. Their defense allows a 41% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 104th and 150th in those defensive statistics. They rank 98th with 11.8 assists allowed per contest, and 159th with 34.8 rebounds surrendered per game. The Bulldogs are 92nd in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 12.8 per game. Gonzaga is 6th in the country with 93.3 points per game this year. They are 2nd in the D-1 in shooting at 52%, while their average scoring margin is 16.6. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 71st in the nation. They are 38th in the country in rebounding with 40.3 boards per game and 6th in assists per contest with 19.3. The Bulldogs are 307th in turnovers per game with 11.7.

Advanced Statistics

The Pioneers have an offensive rating of 100.7, which is ranked 245th. They are 249th in college basketball in pace with 69.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 171st. As a unit they are 187th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shot attempts, ranking 216th in D-1. Denver is 58th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 18.5 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Gonzaga is 338th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.5 times per 100 possessions. The Bulldogs are 1st in the country in offensive rating with 123.1. In terms of pace they are 32nd in Division 1 with 75.8 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 59% is 5th. As a team they are 2nd in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 62% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shots, ranking 211th in the nation.

Who will win tonight's Denver/Gonzaga college basketball game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Gonzaga -29

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