Houston at East Carolina College Basketball Picks & Predictions 1/14/2018

Sunday, January 14, 2018

Minges Coliseum

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Houston Cougars travel to Minges Coliseum to play the East Carolina Pirates on Sunday, January 14, 2018. The opening line for this game has Houston as 16.5 point favorites.

Houston heads into this matchup with a mark of 13-3. They currently have a point differential of 13.2 as they are averaging 81.0 points per contest while giving up 67.8 per game. East Carolina has an overall record of 7-9. They are averaging 65.3 points per game and surrendering 70.9, good for a point differential of -5.6.

Valuable Houston Cougars Betting Trends

The Houston Cougars are 7-5 against the spread this season

The Houston Cougars are 5-7 against the over/under this year

Important East Carolina Pirates Betting Trends

The East Carolina Pirates are 3-6 against the spread this season

The East Carolina Pirates are 5-4 against the over/under this year

Key Houston Cougars Injuries

01/13/18 F Breaon Brady Ankle is "?" Sunday vs East Carolina

Key East Carolina Pirates Injuries

12/13/17 G Seth LeDay Eligibility is out indefinitely
11/05/17 G Jeremy Sheppard Suspension is out indefinitely
11/05/17 G Raquan Wilkins Suspension is out indefinitely
01/02/18 G Aaron Jackson Shoulder is out indefinitely
01/02/18 F Justin Whatley Hand is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Corey Davis Jr. averages 11.3 points per game in 26.8 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3.1 assists per contest and 1.9 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 48% for the year while his free throw percentage is 74%. Robert Gray Jr. averages 19.6 points per game while playing 29.8 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 3.1 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.6 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 44% while his free throw percentage is at 84%.

Player Spotlight

Kentrell Barkley averages 12.5 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 32.8 minutes per contest. He also averages 6.3 rebounds per contest and 1.9 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is 70%. B.J. Tyson averages 15.8 points per game while playing 35.6 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 4.8 rebounds per game and has 2.3 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is at 81%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Cougars allow 67.8 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 77th in the nation. They also allow a 40% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the arc, ranking them 37th and 101st in those defensive categories. Opponents average 31.2 rebounds a game which ranks 32nd, and they give up 11.4 assists per contest, which puts them in 52nd place in the country. They force 13.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 188th in college basketball. Houston averages 81.0 points per contest this season, which ranks them 54th in Division 1. Their average scoring margin is 13.2 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 45th. Behind the arc they shoot 41% which is good for 20th in D-1. They average 39.5 rebounds per game and 14.9 assists per game, which ranks them 43rd and 113th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 191st with 13.2 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Pirates surrender 70.9 points per contest, which ranks them 144th in the country. Their defense allows a 43% shooting percentage and a 31% average from 3-point range, ranking them 127th and 41st in those defensive statistics. They rank 291st with 15.2 assists allowed per contest, and 276th with 37.4 rebounds surrendered per game. The Pirates are 107th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 12.9 per game this season. East Carolina is 330th in Division 1 with 65.3 points per game this year. They are 290th in the country in shooting at 42%, while their average scoring margin is -5.6. They shoot 26% from 3-point range, which is good for 351st in the nation. They are 153rd in college basketball in rebounding with 36.6 boards per game and 293rd in assists per contest with 12.1. The Pirates are 50th in turnovers per game with 15.3.

Advanced Statistics

The Cougars are 25th in the nation in offensive rating with 114.9, and their defensive rating of 96.2 is ranked 69th. In terms of pace they are 192nd in the country with 70.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 56% is 41st. As a team they are 42nd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 208th in Division 1. Houston is 203rd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 47%, which is 47th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

East Carolina is 40th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 18.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.8 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 48%, which is 88th in the nation. The Pirates are 336th in the country in offensive rating with 92.8, and their defensive rating of 100.8 is ranked 165th. In terms of pace they are 221st in Division 1 with 69.8 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 46% is 328th. As a team they are 336th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 49% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shots, ranking 301st in the nation.

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

Josh's Pick: Take East Carolina +16.5

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