Nevada at Utah College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/29/2018

Saturday, December 29, 2018

Jon M. Huntsman Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Nevada Wolf Pack travel to Jon M. Huntsman Center to play the Utah Utes on Saturday, December 29, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Nevada as 9 point favorites.

Nevada comes into this game with an overall record of 12-0. They currently have a point differential of 15.3 as they are averaging 82.5 points per game while giving up 67.2 per contest. Utah has an overall record of 6-5. They are averaging 73.7 points per game and surrendering 71.7, good for a point differential of 2.0.

Valuable Nevada Wolf Pack Betting Trends

The Nevada Wolf Pack are 6-4-1 against the spread

The Nevada Wolf Pack are 2-9-0 against the over/under

Important Utah Utes Betting Trends

The Utah Utes are 3-8-0 against the spread

The Utah Utes are 5-5-1 against the over/under

Key Nevada Wolf Pack Injuries

12/12/18 G Lindsey Drew Hip is out for season

Key Utah Utes Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Jordan Caroline comes into this contest averaging 18.8 points per game while playing 35.5 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 9.6 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 38% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 65%. Caleb Martin averages 18.8 points per game in 34.2 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.7 assists per contest and 5.5 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 41% for the year while his free throw percentage is 81%.

Player Spotlight

Sedrick Barefield averages 13.4 points per game while playing 28.5 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 1.6 rebounds per game and has 3.5 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 38% and his free throw percentage is at 88%. Donnie Tillman averages 9.7 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 26.0 minutes per contest. He also averages 6.1 rebounds per contest and 1.6 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 83%.

Useful Team Statistics

Nevada averages 82.5 points per contest this season, which ranks them 35th in the NCAA. Their average scoring margin is 15.3 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a team, which has them ranked 101st. Behind the arc they shoot 34% which is good for 183rd in the nation. They average 38.4 rebounds per game and 15.2 assists per game, which ranks them 82nd and 88th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 348th with 9.5 per game. The Wolf Pack allow 67.2 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 80th in the country. They also allow a 40% shooting percentage and a 32% average from behind the arc, ranking them 67th and 91st in those defensive categories. Opponents average 35.1 rebounds a game which ranks 173rd and they give up 13.2 assists per contest, which puts them in 191st place in Division 1. They force 12.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 68th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Utah is 198th in the country with 73.7 points per game this year. They are 109th in Division 1 in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 2.0. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 115th in the nation. They are 257th in the NCAA in rebounding with 34.8 boards per game, and 147th in assists per contest with 14.4. The Utes are 249th in turnovers per game with 12.5. The Utes surrender 71.7 points per contest, which ranks them 190th in D-1. Their defense allows a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 291st and 283rd in those defensive statistics. They rank 216th with 13.5 assists allowed per contest and 24th with 30.4 rebounds surrendered per game. The Utes are 8th in country in forcing turnovers with 10.5 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Wolf Pack have an offensive rating of 116.7, which is ranked 12th. They are 181st in college basketball in pace with 70.7 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 94th. As a unit they are 41st in the nation in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 43% of their shot attempts, ranking 85th in D-1. Nevada is 348th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.9 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Utah is 170th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.5 times per 100 possessions. The Utes have an offensive rating of 111.2, which is ranked 69th. They are 337th in D-1 in pace with 66.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 55% is 71st. As a unit they are 59th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 46% of their shot attempts, ranking 38th in the country.

Who will win tonight's Nevada/Utah college basketball game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Utah +9

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