Pittsburgh at Virginia Tech College Basketball Picks & Predictions 1/6/2018

Saturday, January 6, 2018

Cassell Coliseum

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Pittsburgh Panthers travel to Cassell Coliseum to play the Virginia Tech Hokies on Saturday, January 6, 2018. The opening line for this game has Virginia Tech as 3.5 point favorites.

Pittsburgh heads into this matchup with a mark of 8-7. They currently have a point differential of -1.7 as they are averaging 67.5 points per contest while giving up 69.2 per game. Virginia Tech has an overall record of 11-4. They are averaging 86.3 points per game and surrendering 70.7, good for a point differential of 15.7.

Valuable Pittsburgh Panthers Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Panthers are 5-5 against the spread this season

The Pittsburgh Panthers are 1-9 against the over/under this year

Important Virginia Tech Hokies Betting Trends

The Virginia Tech Hokies are 7-4 against the spread this season

The Virginia Tech Hokies are 7-4 against the over/under this year

Key Pittsburgh Panthers Injuries

01/05/18 F Ryan Luther Foot is out indefinitely

Key Virginia Tech Hokies Injuries

11/10/17 G Ty Outlaw ACL is out for season

Player Spotlight

Jared Wilson-Frame averages 12.4 points per game in 28.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.1 assists per contest and 3.7 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 37% for the year while his free throw percentage is 76%. Marcus Carr averages 10.9 points per game while playing 28.3 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 2.8 rebounds per game and dishes out 4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 55% while his free throw percentage is at 91%.

Player Spotlight

Justin Bibbs averages 13.8 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 31.2 minutes per contest. He also averages 2.3 rebounds per contest and 1.4 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 53% and his free throw percentage is 83%. Ahmed Hill averages 14.8 points per game while playing 28.9 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 3.6 rebounds per game and has 1.1 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 55% and his free throw percentage is at 78%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Panthers allow 69.2 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 112th in the nation. They also allow a 42% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the arc, ranking them 94th and 120th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 36.5 rebounds a game which ranks 242nd, and they give up 13.1 assists per contest, which puts them in 160th place in the country. They force 11.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 37th in college basketball. Pittsburgh averages 67.5 points per contest this season, which ranks them 312th in Division 1. Their average scoring margin is -1.7 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a team, which has them ranked 228th. Behind the arc they shoot 33% which is good for 255th in D-1. They average 34.5 rebounds per game and 13.9 assists per game, which ranks them 243rd and 186th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 76th with 14.8 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Hokies surrender 70.7 points per contest, which ranks them 152nd in the country. Their defense allows a 41% shooting percentage and a 31% average from 3-point range, ranking them 82nd and 42nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 207th with 13.7 assists allowed per contest, and 71st with 32.5 rebounds surrendered per game. The Hokies are 107th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 12.9 per game this season. Virginia Tech is 19th in Division 1 with 86.3 points per game this year. They are 2nd in the country in shooting at 52%, while their average scoring margin is 15.7. They shoot 42% from 3-point range, which is good for 11th in the nation. They are 171st in college basketball in rebounding with 36.5 boards per game and 26th in assists per contest with 17.5. The Hokies are 184th in turnovers per game with 13.3.

Advanced Statistics

The Panthers are 280th in the nation in offensive rating with 98.7, and their defensive rating of 101.2 is ranked 187th. In terms of pace they are 317th in the country with 67.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 183rd. As a team they are 189th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 46% of their shots, ranking 29th in Division 1. Pittsburgh is 25th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 19.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 48%, which is 82nd in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Virginia Tech is 178th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 47%, which is 71st in the nation. The Hokies are 19th in the country in offensive rating with 117.2, and their defensive rating of 95.9 is ranked 82nd. In terms of pace they are 75th in Division 1 with 73 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 60% is 3rd. As a team they are 3rd in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 63% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shots, ranking 157th in the nation.

Who will win tonight's Pittsburgh/Virginia Tech college basketball game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Virginia Tech -3.5

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