New Mexico at St. Mary's College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/7/2018

Friday, December 7, 2018

Staples Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The New Mexico Lobos travel to Staples Center to play the St. Mary's Gaels on Friday, December 7, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has St. Mary's as 6 point favorites.

New Mexico comes into this game with an overall record of 4-2. They currently have a point differential of -2.2 as they are averaging 84.2 points per game while giving up 86.3 per contest. St. Mary's has an overall mark of 5-4. They are averaging 76.9 points per contest and giving up 68.1, which is a point differential of 8.8.

Valuable New Mexico Lobos Betting Trends

The New Mexico Lobos are 2-4-0 against the spread

The New Mexico Lobos are 6-0-0 against the over/under

Important St. Mary's Gaels Betting Trends

The St. Mary's Gaels are 6-3-0 against the spread

The St. Mary's Gaels are 7-2-0 against the over/under

Key New Mexico Lobos Injuries

11/13/18 F Carlton Bragg Eligibility eligible to return Dec 16
09/30/18 G JaQuan Lyle ACL is out for season

Key St. Mary's Gaels Injuries

11/08/18 C Aaron Menzies Hand is out indefinitely
11/08/18 G Kristers Zoriks ACL is out for season

Player Spotlight

Anthony Mathis comes into this contest averaging 15.7 points per game while playing 25.3 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 1.5 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 49% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 93%. Vance Jackson averages 13.3 points per game in 25.8 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.0 assists per contest and 7.0 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 41% for the year while his free throw percentage is 62%.

Player Spotlight

Jordan Ford averages 22.3 points per game while playing 35.4 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 2.3 rebounds per game and has 3.3 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is at 85%. Malik Fitts averages 14.8 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 31.1 minutes per contest. He also averages 8.7 rebounds per contest and 1.6 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 50% and his free throw percentage is 73%.

Useful Team Statistics

New Mexico averages 84.2 points per contest this season, which ranks them 35th in the NCAA. Their average scoring margin is -2.2 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 148th. Behind the arc they shoot 43% which is good for 9th in the nation. They average 33.7 rebounds per game and 13.2 assists per game, which ranks them 285th and 219th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 34th with 16.2 per game. The Lobos allow 86.3 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 348th in the country. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 40% average from behind the arc, ranking them 312th and 338th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 38.0 rebounds a game which ranks 281st and they give up 14.8 assists per contest, which puts them in 291st place in Division 1. They force 15.0 turnovers per game which ranks them 231st in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

St. Mary's is 136th in the country with 76.9 points per game this year. They are 66th in Division 1 in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 8.8. They shoot 38% from 3-point range, which is good for 60th in the nation. They are 292nd in the NCAA in rebounding with 33.4 boards per game, and 305th in assists per contest with 11.3. The Gaels are 349th in turnovers per game with 8.8. The Gaels surrender 68.1 points per contest, which ranks them 104th in D-1. Their defense allows a 45% shooting percentage and a 30% average from 3-point range, ranking them 257th and 80th in those defensive statistics. They rank 30th with 9.9 assists allowed per contest and 40th with 31.0 rebounds surrendered per game. The Gaels are 9th in country in forcing turnovers with 10.7 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Lobos are 117th in the nation in offensive rating with 108.1. In terms of pace they are 16th in the country with 77.8 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 56% is 45th. As a team they are 28th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 46% of their shots, ranking 31st in Division 1. New Mexico is 61st in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 18.6 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

St. Mary's is 345th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.8 times per 100 possessions. The Gaels are 19th in the country in offensive rating with 116.9. In terms of pace they are 335th in Division 1 with 65.8 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 55% is 50th. As a team they are 45th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shots, ranking 175th in the nation.

Who will win tonight's New Mexico/St. Mary's college basketball game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take St. Mary's -6

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