Penn State at Notre Dame College Basketball Picks & Predictions 3/17/2018

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Purcell Pavilion

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Penn State Nittany Lions travel to Purcell Pavilion to play the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Saturday, March 17, 2018. The opening line for this game has Notre Dame as 4.5 point favorites.

Penn State heads into this matchup with a mark of 22-13. They currently have a point differential of 7.7 as they are averaging 74.3 points per contest while giving up 66.6 per game. Notre Dame has an overall record of 21-14. They are averaging 75.3 points per game and surrendering 68.5, good for a point differential of 6.8.

Valuable Penn State Nittany Lions Betting Trends

The Penn State Nittany Lions are 16-13 against the spread this season

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

Important Notre Dame Fighting Irish Betting Trends

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are 14-17 against the spread this season

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are 14-13 against the over/under this year

Key Penn State Nittany Lions Injuries

03/01/18 F Mike Watkins Knee is out indefinitely

Key Notre Dame Fighting Irish Injuries

03/16/18 F Elijah Burns Knee missed last game, is "?" Saturday vs Penn State
02/23/18 G D.J. Harvey Knee is out for season

Player Spotlight

Tony Carr averages 19.4 points per game while playing 34.9 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 51% while his free throw percentage is at 79%. Lamar Stevens averages 14.8 points per game in 32.7 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.7 assists per contest and 6.1 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 45% for the year while his free throw percentage is 69%.

Player Spotlight

Bonzie Colson averages 19.9 points per game while playing 32.7 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 10.2 rebounds per game and has 0.9 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 51% and his free throw percentage is at 77%. Matt Farrell averages 16.5 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 35.7 minutes per contest. He also averages 2.5 rebounds per contest and 5.5 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is 82%.

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 119th. Behind the arc they shoot 38%, which is good for 42nd in the country. They average 35.7 rebounds per game and 13.6 assists per game, which ranks them 154th and 175th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 248th with 12.1 per game. The Nittany Lions allow 66.6 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 42nd in Division 1. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 95th and 156th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 33.1 rebounds a game which ranks 80th and they give up 11.8 assists per contest, which puts them in 67th place in college basketball. They force 13.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 227th in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Notre Dame is 135th in the country with 75.3 points per game this year. They are 184th in D-1 in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 6.8. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 106th in college basketball. They are 106th in the nation in rebounding with 36.7 boards per game, and 112th in assists per contest with 14.5. The Fighting Irish are 345th in turnovers per game with 9.8. The Fighting Irish surrender 68.5 points per contest, which ranks them 78th in the country. Their defense allows a 43% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 87th and 185th in those defensive statistics. They rank 239th with 14.2 assists allowed per contest and 155th with 34.4 rebounds surrendered per game. The Fighting Irish are 33rd in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 11.1 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Nittany Lions are 101st in the nation in offensive rating with 108, and their defensive rating of 96.8 is ranked 34th. In terms of pace they are 241st in the country with 68.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 138th. As a team they are 152nd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shots, ranking 290th in Division 1. Penn State is 250th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 48%, which is 61st in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Notre Dame is 345th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.3 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 49%, which is 96th in the nation. The Fighting Irish are 39th in the country in offensive rating with 111.8, and their defensive rating of 101.8 is ranked 151st. In terms of pace they are 309th in Division 1 with 66.6 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 156th. As a team they are 128th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shots, ranking 122nd in the nation.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Notre Dame -4.5

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