Penn State at Purdue College Basketball Picks & Predictions 3/3/2018

Saturday, March 3, 2018

Madison Square Garden

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Penn State Nittany Lions head to Madison Square Garden to take on the Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday, March 3, 2018.

Penn State heads into this matchup with a mark of 19-12. They currently have a point differential of 8.4 as they are averaging 74.9 points per contest while giving up 66.5 per game. Purdue has an overall record of 26-5. They are averaging 81.7 points per game and surrendering 64.9, good for a point differential of 16.8.

Valuable Penn State Nittany Lions Betting Trends

The Penn State Nittany Lions are 15-12 against the spread this season

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

Important Purdue Boilermakers Betting Trends

The Purdue Boilermakers are 15-14 against the spread this season

The Purdue Boilermakers are 12-16 against the over/under this year

Key Penn State Nittany Lions Injuries

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

Key Purdue Boilermakers Injuries

12/22/17 F Eden Ewing Dismissed is out for season

Player Spotlight

Tony Carr averages 20 points per contest while playing 34.8 minutes per night this year. He grabs 4.6 rebounds per contest and distributes 4.7 assists per game. His FG percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage is 81%. Lamar Stevens averages 15 points per contest in 32.9 minutes per game this year. He averages 1.7 assists per game and 6.2 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 46% for the season while his free throw percentage is 67%.

Player Spotlight

Carsen Edwards scores 18.2 points per contest while playing 29 minutes per game this season. He hauls in 3.8 rebounds per contest and has 3 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 83%. Vince Edwards averages 14.7 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 31.3 minutes per game. He also brings in 7.6 rebounds per game and has 3 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is 84%.

Useful Team Statistics

Penn State averages 74.9 points per contest this year, which is 148th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 8.4 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a unit, which has them ranked 84th. From 3-point territory they shoot 38%, which is good for 51st in Division 1. They average 35.5 boards per contest and 13.8 assists per game, which ranks them 171st and 168th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 240th with 12.3 per game. The Nittany Lions allow 66.5 points per contest, which is 41st in the country. They also surrender a 42% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 83rd and 147th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 33.1 rebounds a game which ranks 81st, and they allow 11.7 assists per game which puts them in 56th place in college basketball. They force 14.0 turnovers per game which ranks them 244th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Purdue is 37th in the country with 81.7 points per contest this season. They are 16th in the nation in shooting at 50%, while their average scoring margin is 16.8. They shoot 42% from beyond the arc, which is good for 4th in Division 1. They are 188th in the country in rebounding with 35.3 boards per contest and 17th in assists per game with 17.1. The Boilermakers are 336th in turnovers per contest with 10.7. The Boilermakers give up 64.9 points per game, which ranks them 22nd in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 41% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 28th and 103rd in those defensive statistics. They rank 78th with 12.0 dimes allowed per game and 64th with 32.6 boards surrendered per contest. The Boilermakers are 120th in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 12.5 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Nittany Lions are 107th in the nation in offensive rating with 108.2, and their defensive rating of 96.1 is ranked 27th. In terms of pace they are 229th in the country with 68.7 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 104th. As a team they are 137th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shots, ranking 291st in Division 1. Penn State is 237th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17.8 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 48%, which is 51st in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Purdue is 321st in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.9 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 47%, which is 20th in the nation. The Boilermakers are 6th in the country in offensive rating with 118.6, and their defensive rating of 94.2 is ranked 14th. In terms of pace they are 233rd in Division 1 with 68.6 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 58% is 9th. As a team they are 9th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 61% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shots, ranking 109th in the nation.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Penn State

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