Penn State at Utah College Basketball Picks & Predictions 3/29/2018

Thursday, March 29, 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 Utah Utes on Thursday, March 29, 2018 in the NIT Championship. The opening line for this matchup has Penn State as 3 point favorites.

Penn State heads into this matchup with a mark of 25-13. They currently have a point differential of 7.8 as they are averaging 74.6 points per contest while giving up 66.7 per game. Utah has an overall record of 23-11. They are averaging 73.7 points per game and surrendering 68.1, good for a point differential of 5.6.

Valuable Penn State Nittany Lions Betting Trends

The Penn State Nittany Lions are 19-13 against the spread this season

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

Important Utah Utes Betting Trends

The Utah Utes are 18-11 against the spread this season

The Utah Utes are 10-17 against the over/under this year

Key Penn State Nittany Lions Injuries

03/27/18 F Mike Watkins Knee is out indefinitely

Key Utah Utes Injuries

03/28/18 F Jayce Johnson Ankle is "?" Thursday vs Penn State

Player Spotlight

Tony Carr averages 19.7 points per contest while playing 35.3 minutes per night this year. He grabs 4.8 rebounds per contest and distributes 4.8 assists per game. His FG percentage is 46% while his free throw percentage is 80%. Lamar Stevens averages 15.2 points per contest in 32.9 minutes per game this year. He averages 1.8 assists per game and 6.1 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 46% for the season while his free throw percentage is 70%.

Player Spotlight

Justin Bibbins scores 14.7 points per contest while playing 34.9 minutes per game this season. He hauls in 2.9 rebounds per contest and has 4.7 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is at 88%. David Collette averages 12.5 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 22 minutes per game. He also brings in 4.6 rebounds per game and has 1.2 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 64% and his free throw percentage is 72%.

Useful Team Statistics

Penn State averages 74.6 points per contest this year, which is 155th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 7.8 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a unit, which has them ranked 115th. From 3-point territory they shoot 39%, which is good for 32nd in Division 1. They average 35.6 boards per contest and 13.6 assists per game, which ranks them 173rd and 170th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 262nd with 11.9 per game. The Nittany Lions allow 66.7 points per contest, which is 42nd in the country. They also surrender a 43% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 87th and 129th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 33.2 rebounds a game which ranks 85th, and they allow 11.8 assists per game which puts them in 61st place in college basketball. They force 13.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 217th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Utah is 177th in the country with 73.7 points per contest this season. They are 103rd in the nation in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 5.6. They shoot 37% from beyond the arc, which is good for 85th in Division 1. They are 263rd in the country in rebounding with 33.7 boards per contest and 66th in assists per game with 15.3. The Utes are 263rd in turnovers per contest with 11.9. The Utes give up 68.1 points per game, which ranks them 64th in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 42% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 49th and 98th in those defensive statistics. They rank 35th with 11.3 dimes allowed per game and 170th with 34.6 boards surrendered per contest. The Utes are 85th in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 11.9 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Nittany Lions are 90th in the nation in offensive rating with 108.9, and their defensive rating of 97.4 is ranked 39th. In terms of pace they are 253rd in the country with 68 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 122nd. As a team they are 138th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shots, ranking 287th in Division 1. Penn State is 261st in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17.3 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 48%, which is 57th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Utah is 201st in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 48%, which is 50th in Division 1. The Utes are 104th in the nation in defensive rating with 100.3, and their offensive rating of 108.6 is ranked 97th. They are 288th in D-1 in pace with 67.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 55% is 44th. As a unit they are 39th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 46% of their shot attempts, ranking 24th in the country.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Penn State -3

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