Penn State at Northwestern College Basketball Picks & Predictions 1/20/2018

Saturday, January 20, 2018

Allstate Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Penn State Nittany Lions travel to Allstate Arena to play the Northwestern Wildcats on Saturday, January 20, 2018. The opening line for this game has Northwestern as 2 point favorites.

Penn State heads into this matchup with a mark of 13-7. They currently have a point differential of 10.5 as they are averaging 77.7 points per contest while giving up 67.2 per game. Northwestern has an overall record of 11-9. They are averaging 72.9 points per game and surrendering 67.4, good for a point differential of 5.6.

Valuable Penn State Nittany Lions Betting Trends

The Penn State Nittany Lions are 7-8 against the spread this season

The Penn State Nittany Lions are 7-9 against the over/under this year

Important Northwestern Wildcats Betting Trends

The Northwestern Wildcats are 6-11 against the spread this season

The Northwestern Wildcats are 6-10 against the over/under this year

Key Penn State Nittany Lions Injuries

01/19/18 G Josh Reaves Academics is "?" Saturday vs Northwestern

Key Northwestern Wildcats Injuries

12/11/17 F Rapolas Ivanauskas Shoulder is out for season
01/19/18 F Aaron Falzon Back is "?" Saturday vs Penn State

Player Spotlight

Lamar Stevens averages 15.7 points per game in 31.4 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2 assists per contest and 6.8 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 47% for the year while his free throw percentage is 71%. Tony Carr averages 19.6 points per game while playing 33.1 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 38% while his free throw percentage is at 84%.

Player Spotlight

Bryant McIntosh averages 12.9 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 32.4 minutes per contest. He also averages 2.6 rebounds per contest and 5.7 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 39% and his free throw percentage is 95%. Scottie Lindsey averages 14 points per game while playing 30 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 3.6 rebounds per game and has 1.9 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 38% and his free throw percentage is at 80%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Nittany Lions allow 67.2 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 69th in the nation. They also allow a 41% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 66th and 194th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 33.7 rebounds a game which ranks 114th, and they give up 11.2 assists per contest, which puts them in 39th place in the country. They force 15.0 turnovers per game which ranks them 270th in college basketball. Penn State averages 77.7 points per contest this season, which ranks them 99th in Division 1. Their average scoring margin is 10.5 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a team, which has them ranked 98th. Behind the arc they shoot 38% which is good for 81st in D-1. They average 37.9 rebounds per game and 14.6 assists per game, which ranks them 85th and 129th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 194th with 13.1 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Wildcats surrender 67.4 points per contest, which ranks them 71st in the country. Their defense allows a 44% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 198th and 254th in those defensive statistics. They rank 193rd with 13.6 assists allowed per contest, and 90th with 33.0 rebounds surrendered per game. The Wildcats are 234th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 14.3 per game this season. Northwestern is 212th in Division 1 with 72.9 points per game this year. They are 268th in the country in shooting at 43%, while their average scoring margin is 5.6. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 142nd in the nation. They are 264th in college basketball in rebounding with 34.1 boards per game and 100th in assists per contest with 15.1. The Wildcats are 284th in turnovers per game with 12.1.

Advanced Statistics

The Nittany Lions are 106th in the nation in offensive rating with 107.9, and their defensive rating of 93.4 is ranked 29th. In terms of pace they are 147th in the country with 71 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 136th. As a team they are 144th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 31% of their shots, ranking 309th in Division 1. Penn State is 238th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 18.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 47%, which is 55th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Northwestern is 267th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 18.6 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 185th in Division 1. The Wildcats are 96th in the nation in defensive rating with 97.8, and their offensive rating of 105.8 is ranked 143rd. They are 268th in D-1 in pace with 68.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 50% is 227th. As a unit they are 198th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 41% of their shot attempts, ranking 93rd in the country.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Northwestern -2

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