Minnesota at Penn State College Basketball Picks & Predictions 1/15/2018

Monday, January 15, 2018

Bryce Jordan Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Minnesota Golden Gophers travel to Bryce Jordan Center to play the Penn State Nittany Lions on Monday, January 15, 2018. The opening line for this game has Penn State as 8.5 point favorites.

Minnesota comes into this game with an overall record of 13-6. They currently have a point differential of 7.7 as they are averaging 79.6 points per game while giving up 71.8 per contest. Penn State has an overall mark of 13-6. They are averaging 77.3 points per contest and giving up 65.7, which is a point differential of 11.6.

Valuable Minnesota Golden Gophers Betting Trends

The Minnesota Golden Gophers are 8-10 against the spread this season

The Minnesota Golden Gophers are 9-9 against the over/under this year

Important Penn State Nittany Lions Betting Trends

The Penn State Nittany Lions are 7-7 against the spread this season

The Penn State Nittany Lions are 6-9 against the over/under this year

Key Minnesota Golden Gophers Injuries

01/10/18 G Amir Coffey Shoulder is out indefinitely
01/04/18 C Reggie Lynch Suspension is out indefinitely

Key Penn State Nittany Lions Injuries

01/12/18 G Josh Reaves Academics is "?"

Player Spotlight

Jordan Murphy averages 17.9 points per game while playing 29.9 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 11.7 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 40% while his free throw percentage is at 74%. Nate Mason averages 15.2 points per game in 30.4 minutes per contest this season. He averages 4.4 assists per contest and 3.8 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 40% for the year while his free throw percentage is 80%.

Player Spotlight

Tony Carr averages 18.8 points per game while playing 32.5 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 4.4 rebounds per game and has 4.9 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 40% and his free throw percentage is at 83%. Lamar Stevens averages 15.9 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 30.9 minutes per contest. He also averages 6.7 rebounds per contest and 2.1 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is 71%.

Useful Team Statistics

Minnesota averages 79.6 points per contest this season, which ranks them 68th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 7.7 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a team, which has them ranked 205th. Behind the arc they shoot 34%, which is good for 214th in the country. They average 41.4 rebounds per game and 16.7 assists per game, which ranks them 10th and 37th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 321st with 11.4 per game. The Golden Gophers allow 71.8 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 167th in Division 1. They also allow a 41% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 60th and 259th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 38.0 rebounds a game which ranks 294th and they give up 15.2 assists per contest, which puts them in 287th place in college basketball. They force 12.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 87th in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Penn State is 109th in the country with 77.3 points per game this year. They are 98th in D-1 in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 11.6. They shoot 38% from 3-point range, which is good for 69th in college basketball. They are 81st in the nation in rebounding with 38.1 boards per game, and 126th in assists per contest with 14.7. The Nittany Lions are 159th in turnovers per game with 13.5. The Nittany Lions surrender 65.7 points per contest, which ranks them 40th in the country. Their defense allows a 41% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 53rd and 132nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 39th with 11.1 assists allowed per contest and 85th with 33.1 rebounds surrendered per game. The Nittany Lions are 273rd in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 15.1 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Golden Gophers are 127th in the country in defensive rating with 99.2, and their offensive rating of 109.9 is ranked 80th. They are 87th in college basketball in pace with 72.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 50% is 250th. As a unit they are 212th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shot attempts, ranking 305th in D-1. Minnesota is 334th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 47%, which is 65th in the country.

Advanced Statistics

Penn State is 185th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 18.6 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 46%, which is 31st in Division 1. The Nittany Lions are 17th in the nation in defensive rating with 91.8, and their offensive rating of 108 is ranked 111th. They are 147th in D-1 in pace with 71.1 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 138th. As a unit they are 138th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 31% of their shot attempts, ranking 307th in the country.

Who will win tonight's Minnesota/Penn State college basketball game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Penn State -8.5

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