Iona at Duke College Basketball Picks & Predictions 3/15/2018

Thursday, March 15, 2018

PPG Paints Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Iona Gaels travel to PPG Paints Arena to play the Duke Blue Devils on Thursday, March 15, 2018. The opening line for this game has Duke as 20 point favorites.

Iona comes into this game with an overall record of 17-13. They currently have a point differential of 3.7 as they are averaging 79.8 points per game while giving up 76.2 per contest. Duke has an overall mark of 25-6. They are averaging 84.7 points per contest and giving up 69.6, which is a point differential of 15.1.

Valuable Iona Gaels Betting Trends

The Iona Gaels are 15-14 against the spread this season

The Iona Gaels are 15-11 against the over/under this year

Important Duke Blue Devils Betting Trends

The Duke Blue Devils are 20-11 against the spread this season

The Duke Blue Devils are 16-13 against the over/under this year

Key Iona Gaels Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Duke Blue Devils Injuries

03/11/18 G Trevon Duval Ankle is questionable Thursday vs Iona
03/11/18 F Wendell Carter Jr. Ankle is questionable Thursday vs Iona

Player Spotlight

Rickey McGill averages 13.5 points per game while playing 33.6 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 4.1 rebounds per game and dishes out 5.6 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 61% while his free throw percentage is at 70%. E.J. Crawford averages 12.9 points per game in 26.9 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.1 assists per contest and 3.5 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 47% for the year while his free throw percentage is 80%.

Player Spotlight

Marvin Bagley III averages 21.1 points per game while playing 33.2 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 11.5 rebounds per game and has 1.6 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 61% and his free throw percentage is at 62%. Grayson Allen averages 15.7 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 35.1 minutes per contest. He also averages 3.5 rebounds per contest and 4.5 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is 85%.

Useful Team Statistics

Iona averages 79.8 points per contest this season, which ranks them 45th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 3.7 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 99th. Behind the arc they shoot 39%, which is good for 32nd in the country. They average 33.8 rebounds per game and 15.9 assists per game, which ranks them 254th and 38th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 288th with 11.7 per game. The Gaels allow 76.2 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 273rd in Division 1. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 272nd and 220th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 37.6 rebounds a game which ranks 298th and they give up 14.6 assists per contest, which puts them in 277th place in college basketball. They force 13.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 233rd in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Duke is 8th in the country with 84.7 points per game this year. They are 14th in D-1 in shooting at 49%, while their average scoring margin is 15.1. They shoot 38% from 3-point range, which is good for 52nd in college basketball. They are 3rd in the nation in rebounding with 41.8 boards per game, and 9th in assists per contest with 17.5. The Blue Devils are 206th in turnovers per game with 12.6. The Blue Devils surrender 69.6 points per contest, which ranks them 102nd in the country. Their defense allows a 40% shooting percentage and a 32% average from 3-point range, ranking them 11th and 28th in those defensive statistics. They rank 260th with 14.4 assists allowed per contest and 60th with 32.5 rebounds surrendered per game. The Blue Devils are 88th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 12.0 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Gaels are 77th in the nation in offensive rating with 109.5, and their defensive rating of 104.4 is ranked 225th. In terms of pace they are 74th in the country with 71.6 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 59th. As a team they are 66th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 41% of their shots, ranking 86th in Division 1. Iona is 307th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.3 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 258th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Duke is 268th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.5 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 46%, which is 11th in Division 1. The Blue Devils are 42nd in the nation in defensive rating with 97.6, and their offensive rating of 118.8 is ranked 4th. They are 95th in D-1 in pace with 71 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 56% is 20th. As a unit they are 26th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 225th in the country.

Who will win tonight's Iona/Duke college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Duke -20

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 Tony Sink