Middle Tennessee State at Louisville College Basketball Picks & Predictions 3/18/2018

Sunday, March 18, 2018

KFC Yum! Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The MTSU Blue Raiders travel to KFC Yum! Center to play the Louisville Cardinals on Sunday, March 18, 2018. The opening line for this game has Louisville as 5 point favorites.

Middle Tennessee State heads into this matchup with a mark of 25-7. They currently have a point differential of 9.6 as they are averaging 75.3 points per contest while giving up 65.8 per game. Louisville has an overall record of 21-13. They are averaging 75.9 points per game and surrendering 70.2, good for a point differential of 5.7.

Valuable MTSU Blue Raiders Betting Trends

The MTSU Blue Raiders are 17-12 against the spread this season

The MTSU Blue Raiders are 8-19 against the over/under this year

Important Louisville Cardinals Betting Trends

The Louisville Cardinals are 16-14 against the spread this season

The Louisville Cardinals are 16-11 against the over/under this year

Key MTSU Blue Raiders Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Louisville Cardinals Injuries

11/22/17 G Brian Bowen II Suspension is out for season
03/16/18 F Jordan Nwora Thigh is questionable Sunday vs Middle Tenn St

Player Spotlight

Giddy Potts averages 13.4 points per game in 31.7 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.9 assists per contest and 4.3 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 41% for the year while his free throw percentage is 86%. Nick King averages 20.9 points per game while playing 33 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 8.5 rebounds per game and dishes out 2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is at 74%.

Player Spotlight

Quentin Snider averages 12.1 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 32.4 minutes per contest. He also averages 2.7 rebounds per contest and 4 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is 87%. Deng Adel averages 15.5 points per game while playing 33.7 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 5.3 rebounds per game and has 2.8 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is at 78%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Blue Raiders allow 65.8 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 26th in the nation. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 31% average from behind the arc, ranking them 102nd and 7th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 30.5 rebounds a game which ranks 13th, and they give up 11.5 assists per contest, which puts them in 48th place in the country. They force 13.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 214th in college basketball. Middle Tennessee State averages 75.3 points per contest this season, which ranks them 129th in Division 1. Their average scoring margin is 9.6 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a team, which has them ranked 56th. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 71st in D-1. They average 36.1 rebounds per game and 14.3 assists per game, which ranks them 131st and 120th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 224th with 12.4 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Cardinals surrender 70.2 points per contest, which ranks them 116th in the country. Their defense allows a 41% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 29th and 54th in those defensive statistics. They rank 31st with 11.1 assists allowed per contest, and 277th with 36.9 rebounds surrendered per game. The Cardinals are 209th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 13.4 per game this season. Louisville is 110th in Division 1 with 75.9 points per game this year. They are 136th in the country in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 5.7. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 82nd in the nation. They are 98th in college basketball in rebounding with 36.9 boards per game and 171st in assists per contest with 13.6. The Cardinals are 274th in turnovers per game with 11.8.

Advanced Statistics

The Blue Raiders are 65th in the nation in offensive rating with 110.1, and their defensive rating of 96.1 is ranked 25th. In terms of pace they are 255th in the country with 67.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 86th. As a team they are 84th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shots, ranking 263rd in Division 1. Middle Tennessee State is 205th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17.8 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 49%, which is 69th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Louisville is 281st in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 47%, which is 18th in Division 1. The Cardinals are 70th in the nation in defensive rating with 99, and their offensive rating of 107.1 is ranked 119th. They are 157th in D-1 in pace with 69.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 145th. As a unit they are 127th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 244th in the country.

Who will win tonight's Middle Tennessee State/Louisville college basketball game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Louisville -5

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