Northern Illinois at Akron College Basketball Picks & Predictions 1/20/2018

Saturday, January 20, 2018

James A. Rhodes Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Northern Illinois Huskies travel to James A. Rhodes Arena to play the Akron Zips on Saturday, January 20, 2018. The opening line for this game has Akron as 4.5 point favorites.

Northern Illinois heads into this matchup with a mark of 9-9. They currently have a point differential of 0.3 as they are averaging 73.8 points per contest while giving up 73.5 per game. Akron has an overall mark of 8-9. They are averaging 71.4 points per contest and giving up 73.3, which is a point differential of -1.9.

Valuable Northern Illinois Huskies Betting Trends

The Northern Illinois Huskies are 7-7 against the spread this season

The Northern Illinois Huskies are 6-8 against the over/under this year

Important Akron Zips Betting Trends

The Akron Zips are 6-9 against the spread this season

The Akron Zips are 6-9 against the over/under this year

Key Northern Illinois Huskies Injuries

11/14/17 F Jaylen Key Shoulder is out indefinitely

Key Akron Zips Injuries

01/19/18 F Jaden Sayles Undisclosed is "?" Saturday vs No Illinois
01/12/18 F Emmanuel Olojakpoke Heart is out for season

Player Spotlight

Eugene German averages 19.7 points per game while playing 29.9 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 3.6 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.9 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 42% while his free throw percentage is at 75%. Levi Bradley averages 14.2 points per game in 29.1 minutes per contest this season. He averages 0.8 assists per contest and 6.1 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 42% for the year while his free throw percentage is 84%.

Player Spotlight

Daniel Utomi averages 15.5 points per game while playing 33.4 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 6.1 rebounds per game and has 1.7 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is at 78%. Malcolm Duvivier averages 13.9 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 32.4 minutes per contest. He also averages 2.1 rebounds per contest and 3.5 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 40% and his free throw percentage is 55%.

Useful Team Statistics

Northern Illinois averages 73.8 points per contest this season, which ranks them 184th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 0.3 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 151st. Behind the arc they shoot 34%, which is good for 217th in the country. They average 35.4 rebounds per game and 10.6 assists per game, which ranks them 209th and 341st in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 288th with 12.1 per game. The Huskies allow 73.5 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 211th in Division 1. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 252nd and 203rd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 36.3 rebounds a game which ranks 243rd and they give up 14.7 assists per contest, which puts them in 269th place in college basketball. They force 14.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 226th in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Akron is 247th in the country with 71.4 points per game this year. They are 261st in D-1 in shooting at 43%, while their average scoring margin is -1.9. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 87th in college basketball. They are 249th in the nation in rebounding with 34.4 boards per game, and 197th in assists per contest with 13.5. The Zips are 105th in turnovers per game with 14.2. The Zips surrender 73.3 points per contest, which ranks them 209th in the country. Their defense allows a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 280th and 213th in those defensive statistics. They rank 174th with 13.3 assists allowed per contest and 123rd with 33.9 rebounds surrendered per game. The Zips are 78th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 12.4 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Huskies are 186th in the nation in offensive rating with 104.1, and their defensive rating of 103.7 is ranked 231st. In terms of pace they are 153rd in the country with 70.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 50% is 228th. As a team they are 216th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 28% of their shots, ranking 334th in Division 1. Northern Illinois is 284th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 259th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Akron is 76th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.8 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 282nd in Division 1. The Zips are 263rd in the nation in defensive rating with 105.1, and their offensive rating of 102.3 is ranked 221st. They are 211th in D-1 in pace with 69.8 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 164th. As a unit they are 184th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 46% of their shot attempts, ranking 23rd in the country.

Who will win tonight's Northern Illinois/Akron college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Akron -4.5

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