Marshall at Virginia College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/31/2018

Monday, December 31, 2018

John Paul Jones Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Marshall Thundering Herd head to John Paul Jones Arena to take on the Virginia Cavaliers on Monday, December 31, 2018. The opening line for this game has Virginia as 20 point favorites.

Marshall comes into this game with an overall record of 7-5. They currently have a point differential of 1.8 as they are averaging 82.0 points per game while giving up 80.2 per contest. Virginia has an overall record of 11-0. They are averaging 72.4 points per game and surrendering 50.3, good for a point differential of 22.1.

Valuable Marshall Thundering Herd Betting Trends

The Marshall Thundering Herd are 5-7-0 against the spread this season

The Marshall Thundering Herd are 6-6-0 against the over/under this year

Important Virginia Cavaliers Betting Trends

The Virginia Cavaliers are 8-3-0 against the spread this season

The Virginia Cavaliers are 4-7-0 against the over/under this year

Key Marshall Thundering Herd Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Virginia Cavaliers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Jon Elmore comes into this game averaging 19.4 points per contest while playing 34.6 minutes per night this year. He grabs 4.6 rebounds per contest and distributes 5.0 assists per game. His FG percentage is 53% while his free throw percentage is 73%. C.J. Burks averages 18.0 points per contest in 33.0 minutes per game. He averages 3.0 assists per game and 3.7 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 48% for the season while his free throw percentage is 71%.

Player Spotlight

De'Andre Hunter scores 14.8 points per contest while playing 28.6 minutes per game. He hauls in 5.0 rebounds per contest and has 2.3 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 53% and his free throw percentage is at 83%. Ty Jerome averages 14.2 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 30.9 minutes per game. He also brings in 4.5 rebounds per game and has 4.3 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 74%.

Useful Team Statistics

Marshall averages 82.0 points per contest, which is 42nd in D-1. Their average scoring margin is 1.8 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a unit, which has them ranked 186th. From 3-point territory they shoot 35%, which is good for 174th in the nation. They average 35.1 boards per contest and 15.7 assists per game, which ranks them 242nd and 70th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 149th with 13.8 per game. The Thundering Herd allow 80.2 points per contest, which is 320th in the NCAA. They also surrender a 46% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 277th and 230th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 42.4 rebounds a game which ranks 347th, and they allow 13.2 assists per game which puts them in 192nd place in the country. They force 18.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 344th in Division 1.

Useful Team Statistics

Virginia is 226th in the nation with 72.4 points per contest this season. They are 94th in the country in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 22.1. They shoot 39% from beyond the arc, which is good for 33rd in the NCAA. They are 293rd in D-1 in rebounding with 33.7 boards per contest and 108th in assists per game with 14.8. The Cavaliers are 351st in turnovers per contest with 7.9. The Cavaliers give up 50.3 points per game, which ranks them 1st in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 38% shooting percentage and a 24% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 16th and 1st in those defensive statistics. They rank 2nd with 8.3 dimes allowed per game and 11th with 29.5 boards surrendered per contest. The Cavaliers are 142nd in the nation in forcing turnovers with 13.5 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Thundering Herd are 188th in the nation in offensive rating with 103.7. In terms of pace they are 10th in the country with 78.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 161st. As a team they are 205th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 43% of their shots, ranking 85th in Division 1. Marshall is 241st in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.4 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Virginia is 351st in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.3 times per 100 possessions. The Cavaliers have an offensive rating of 118.1, which is ranked 7th. They are 350th in D-1 in pace with 61.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 83rd. As a unit they are 43rd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shot attempts, ranking 169th in the country.

Who will win tonight's Marshall/Virginia college basketball game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Marshall +20

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