Ohio State at Gonzaga College Basketball Picks & Predictions 3/17/2018

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Taco Bell Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Ohio State Buckeyes head to Taco Bell Arena to take on the Gonzaga Bulldogs on Saturday, March 17, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Gonzaga as 2.5 point favorites.

Ohio State comes into this game with an overall record of 25-8. They currently have a point differential of 9.1 as they are averaging 76.0 points per game while giving up 66.9 per contest. Gonzaga has an overall record of 31-4. They are averaging 84.0 points per game and surrendering 67.0, good for a point differential of 17.0.

Valuable Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Trends

The Ohio State Buckeyes are 16-14 against the spread this season

The Ohio State Buckeyes are 9-20 against the over/under this year

Important Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Trends

The Gonzaga Bulldogs are 14-18 against the spread this season

The Gonzaga Bulldogs are 13-15 against the over/under this year

Key Ohio State Buckeyes Injuries

03/16/18 F Andre Wesson Knee injured last game, is probable Saturday vs Gonzaga

Key Gonzaga Bulldogs Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Keita Bates-Diop averages 19.5 points per contest while playing 32.8 minutes per night this year. He grabs 8.9 rebounds per contest and distributes 1.7 assists per game. His FG percentage is 57% while his free throw percentage is 79%. C.J. Jackson averages 12.4 points per contest in 30.5 minutes per game this year. He averages 3.9 assists per game and 3.9 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 42% for the season while his free throw percentage is 79%.

Player Spotlight

Johnathan Williams scores 13.7 points per contest while playing 29.4 minutes per game this season. He hauls in 8.4 rebounds per contest and has 1.6 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 57% and his free throw percentage is at 55%. Killian Tillie averages 13.1 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 25.9 minutes per game. He also brings in 5.9 rebounds per game and has 1.7 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 59% and his free throw percentage is 76%.

Useful Team Statistics

Ohio State averages 76.0 points per contest this year, which is 105th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 9.1 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a unit, which has them ranked 29th. From 3-point territory they shoot 35%, which is good for 174th in Division 1. They average 37.0 boards per contest and 14.8 assists per game, which ranks them 94th and 95th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 281st with 11.7 per game. The Buckeyes allow 66.9 points per contest, which is 46th in the country. They also surrender a 41% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 45th and 181st in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 31.5 rebounds a game which ranks 29th, and they allow 11.8 assists per game which puts them in 66th place in college basketball. They force 12.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 109th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Gonzaga is 12th in the country with 84.0 points per contest this season. They are 7th in the nation in shooting at 50%, while their average scoring margin is 17.0. They shoot 37% from beyond the arc, which is good for 80th in Division 1. They are 14th in the country in rebounding with 39.9 boards per contest and 57th in assists per game with 15.5. The Bulldogs are 317th in turnovers per contest with 11.3. The Bulldogs give up 67.0 points per game, which ranks them 48th in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 41% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 22nd and 179th in those defensive statistics. They rank 24th with 10.9 dimes allowed per game and 22nd with 31.3 boards surrendered per contest. The Bulldogs are 106th in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 12.3 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Buckeyes are 43rd in the country in defensive rating with 97.6, and their offensive rating of 110.9 is ranked 54th. They are 260th in college basketball in pace with 67.8 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 60th. As a unit they are 65th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shot attempts, ranking 261st in D-1. Ohio State is 262nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 48%, which is 60th in the country.

Advanced Statistics

Gonzaga is 320th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 47%, which is 23rd in the nation. The Bulldogs are 4th in the country in offensive rating with 119.1, and their defensive rating of 95 is ranked 16th. In terms of pace they are 185th in Division 1 with 69.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 57% is 12th. As a team they are 17th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 60% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shots, ranking 119th in the nation.

Who will win tonight's Ohio State/Gonzaga college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Ohio State +2.5

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