Penn State at Michigan State College Basketball Picks & Predictions 1/31/2018

Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Breslin Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Penn State Nittany Lions travel to Breslin Center to play the Michigan State Spartans on Wednesday, January 31, 2018. The opening line for this game has Michigan State as 14 point favorites.

Penn State heads into this matchup with a mark of 15-8. They currently have a point differential of 9.6 as they are averaging 76.3 points per contest while giving up 66.8 per game. Michigan State has an overall mark of 20-3. They are averaging 84.4 points per contest and giving up 64.2, which is a point differential of 20.2.

Valuable Penn State Nittany Lions Betting Trends

The Penn State Nittany Lions are 9-9 against the spread this season

The Penn State Nittany Lions are 8-11 against the over/under this year

Important Michigan State Spartans Betting Trends

The Michigan State Spartans are 13-9 against the spread this season

The Michigan State Spartans are 13-9 against the over/under this year

Key Penn State Nittany Lions Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Michigan State Spartans Injuries

11/08/17 G Kyle Ahrens Foot is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Tony Carr averages 19.2 points per game while playing 33.9 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 4.5 rebounds per game and dishes out 4.8 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 48% while his free throw percentage is at 83%. Lamar Stevens averages 15.1 points per game in 31.5 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.8 assists per contest and 6.4 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 46% for the year while his free throw percentage is 70%.

Player Spotlight

Miles Bridges averages 17.6 points per game while playing 30.6 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 7.3 rebounds per game and has 2.9 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is at 91%. Nick Ward averages 13.7 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 20.2 minutes per contest. He also averages 7.8 rebounds per contest and 0.6 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 69% and his free throw percentage is 60%.

Useful Team Statistics

Penn State averages 76.3 points per contest this season, which ranks them 114th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 9.6 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a team, which has them ranked 72nd. Behind the arc they shoot 38%, which is good for 49th in the country. They average 36.8 rebounds per game and 14.1 assists per game, which ranks them 121st and 149th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 186th with 13.1 per game. The Nittany Lions allow 66.8 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 54th in Division 1. They also allow a 42% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the arc, ranking them 65th and 165th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 32.9 rebounds a game which ranks 82nd and they give up 11.3 assists per contest, which puts them in 44th place in college basketball. They force 14.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 254th in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Michigan State is 19th in the country with 84.4 points per game this year. They are 3rd in D-1 in shooting at 52%, while their average scoring margin is 20.2. They shoot 41% from 3-point range, which is good for 16th in college basketball. They are 4th in the nation in rebounding with 42.2 boards per game, and 1st in assists per contest with 20.3. The Spartans are 103rd in turnovers per game with 14.2. The Spartans surrender 64.2 points per contest, which ranks them 20th in the country. Their defense allows a 36% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 1st and 98th in those defensive statistics. They rank 61st with 11.7 assists allowed per contest and 7th with 29.9 rebounds surrendered per game. The Spartans are 30th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 11.4 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Nittany Lions are 106th in the nation in offensive rating with 107.9, and their defensive rating of 94.3 is ranked 28th. In terms of pace they are 191st in the country with 70 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 104th. As a team they are 113th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shots, ranking 305th in Division 1. Penn State is 201st in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16 times per 100 possessions while forcing 18 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 47%, which is 45th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Michigan State is 109th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 42%, which is 1st in Division 1. The Spartans are 9th in the nation in defensive rating with 91.3, and their offensive rating of 120.1 is ranked 6th. They are 199th in D-1 in pace with 69.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 59% is 6th. As a unit they are 6th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 62% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 224th in the country.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Michigan State -14

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