Houston at SMU College Basketball Picks & Predictions 2/28/2018

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Moody Coliseum

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Houston Cougars travel to Moody Coliseum to play the SMU Mustangs on Wednesday, February 28, 2018. The opening line for this game has Houston as 4.5 point favorites.

Houston heads into this matchup with a mark of 22-6. They currently have a point differential of 12.9 as they are averaging 78.2 points per contest while giving up 65.3 per game. SMU has an overall mark of 16-13. They are averaging 70.8 points per contest and giving up 63.7, which is a point differential of 7.1.

Valuable Houston Cougars Betting Trends

The Houston Cougars are 14-9 against the spread this season

The Houston Cougars are 9-14 against the over/under this year

Important SMU Mustangs Betting Trends

The SMU Mustangs are 9-13 against the spread this season

The SMU Mustangs are 12-12 against the over/under this year

Key Houston Cougars Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key SMU Mustangs Injuries

02/07/18 G Shake Milton Hand is out indefinitely
01/24/18 G Jarrey Foster ACL is out for season
01/22/18 F Everett Ray Foot is out for season

Player Spotlight

Robert Gray Jr. averages 17.7 points per game while playing 30.7 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 3.3 rebounds per game and dishes out 4.6 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 52% while his free throw percentage is at 84%. Corey Davis Jr. averages 13.1 points per game in 29.1 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.8 assists per contest and 3 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 47% for the year while his free throw percentage is 78%.

Player Spotlight

Jimmy Whitt averages 10.9 points per game while playing 32.8 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 5.4 rebounds per game and has 3.6 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 52% and his free throw percentage is at 59%. Ben Emelogu averages 10.1 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 31.4 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.2 rebounds per contest and 1.8 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 67%.

Useful Team Statistics

Houston averages 78.2 points per contest this season, which ranks them 71st in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 12.9 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a team, which has them ranked 74th. Behind the arc they shoot 40%, which is good for 24th in the country. They average 39.5 rebounds per game and 15.5 assists per game, which ranks them 18th and 65th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 226th with 12.5 per game. The Cougars allow 65.3 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 27th in Division 1. They also allow a 39% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the arc, ranking them 7th and 73rd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 31.6 rebounds a game which ranks 33rd and they give up 11.3 assists per contest, which puts them in 37th place in college basketball. They force 13.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 188th in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

SMU is 254th in the country with 70.8 points per game this year. They are 171st in D-1 in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 7.1. They shoot 40% from 3-point range, which is good for 25th in college basketball. They are 258th in the nation in rebounding with 33.8 boards per game, and 85th in assists per contest with 15.1. The Mustangs are 297th in turnovers per game with 11.7. The Mustangs surrender 63.7 points per contest, which ranks them 10th in the country. Their defense allows a 42% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 59th and 171st in those defensive statistics. They rank 243rd with 14.2 assists allowed per contest and 68th with 32.7 rebounds surrendered per game. The Mustangs are 261st in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 14.2 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Cougars are 26th in the nation in offensive rating with 113.5, and their defensive rating of 94.8 is ranked 17th. In terms of pace they are 221st in the country with 68.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 59th. As a team they are 72nd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shots, ranking 163rd in Division 1. Houston is 231st in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 46%, which is 9th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

SMU is 237th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 19 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 126th in Division 1. The Mustangs are 77th in the nation in defensive rating with 98.7, and their offensive rating of 109.7 is ranked 83rd. They are 346th in D-1 in pace with 64.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 109th. As a unit they are 140th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 41% of their shot attempts, ranking 92nd in the country.

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

Guy's Pick: Take SMU +4.5

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