Penn State at Marquette College Basketball Picks & Predictions 3/20/2018

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

BMO Harris Bradley Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Penn State Nittany Lions travel to BMO Harris Bradley Center to play the Marquette Golden Eagles on Tuesday, March 20, 2018. The opening line for this game has Marquette as 1.5 point favorites.

Penn State heads into this matchup with a mark of 23-13. They currently have a point differential of 7.7 as they are averaging 74.3 points per contest while giving up 66.5 per game. Marquette has an overall mark of 21-13. They are averaging 81.4 points per contest and giving up 78.3, which is a point differential of 3.0.

Valuable Penn State Nittany Lions Betting Trends

The Penn State Nittany Lions are 17-13 against the spread this season

The Penn State Nittany Lions are 13-14 against the over/under this year

Important Marquette Golden Eagles Betting Trends

The Marquette Golden Eagles are 16-17 against the spread this season

The Marquette Golden Eagles are 18-11 against the over/under this year

Key Penn State Nittany Lions Injuries

03/19/18 G Nazeer Bostick Suspension is "?" Tuesday vs Marquette
03/01/18 F Mike Watkins Knee is out indefinitely

Key Marquette Golden Eagles Injuries

11/27/17 G Haanif Cheatham Left Team is out for season

Player Spotlight

Tony Carr averages 19.5 points per game while playing 35.1 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 4.8 rebounds per game and dishes out 4.7 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage is at 79%. Lamar Stevens averages 14.7 points per game in 32.8 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.8 assists per contest and 6.1 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 44% for the year while his free throw percentage is 69%.

Player Spotlight

Markus Howard averages 20.4 points per game while playing 31.4 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 3.2 rebounds per game and has 2.8 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 94%. Andrew Rowsey averages 20.2 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 32.5 minutes per contest. He also averages 3 rebounds per contest and 4.7 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is 91%.

Useful Team Statistics

Penn State averages 74.3 points per contest this season, which ranks them 160th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 7.7 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 129th. Behind the arc they shoot 38%, which is good for 43rd in the country. They average 35.8 rebounds per game and 13.5 assists per game, which ranks them 150th and 180th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 256th with 12.0 per game. The Nittany Lions allow 66.5 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 40th in Division 1. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the arc, ranking them 88th and 129th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 33.3 rebounds a game which ranks 89th and they give up 11.8 assists per contest, which puts them in 66th place in college basketball. They force 13.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 225th in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Marquette is 30th in the country with 81.4 points per game this year. They are 37th in D-1 in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 3.0. They shoot 42% from 3-point range, which is good for 3rd in college basketball. They are 330th in the nation in rebounding with 31.9 boards per game, and 44th in assists per contest with 15.8. The Golden Eagles are 231st in turnovers per game with 12.3. The Golden Eagles surrender 78.3 points per contest, which ranks them 310th in the country. Their defense allows a 48% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 319th and 244th in those defensive statistics. They rank 296th with 15.0 assists allowed per contest and 87th with 33.2 rebounds surrendered per game. The Golden Eagles are 169th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 12.9 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Nittany Lions are 99th in the nation in offensive rating with 108.1, and their defensive rating of 96.8 is ranked 33rd. In terms of pace they are 243rd in the country with 68.2 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 147th. As a team they are 161st in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shots, ranking 282nd in Division 1. Penn State is 256th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 48%, which is 56th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Marquette is 225th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 54%, which is 306th in Division 1. The Golden Eagles are 315th in the nation in defensive rating with 109.9, and their offensive rating of 114.2 is ranked 17th. They are 126th in D-1 in pace with 70.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 57% is 15th. As a unit they are 9th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 60% and they shoot 3-pointers on 44% of their shot attempts, ranking 41st in the country.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Marquette -1.5

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