Providence at Xavier College Basketball Picks & Predictions 3/9/2018

Friday, March 9, 2018

Madison Square Garden

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Providence Friars travel to Madison Square Garden to play the Xavier Musketeers on Friday, March 9, 2018. The opening line for this game has Xavier as 6 point favorites.

Providence comes into this game with an overall record of 19-12. They currently have a point differential of 1.2 as they are averaging 74.0 points per game while giving up 72.7 per contest. Xavier has an overall mark of 27-4. They are averaging 84.5 points per contest and giving up 74.9, which is a point differential of 9.6.

Valuable Providence Friars Betting Trends

The Providence Friars are 11-18 against the spread this season

The Providence Friars are 15-14 against the over/under this year

Important Xavier Musketeers Betting Trends

The Xavier Musketeers are 20-11 against the spread this season

The Xavier Musketeers are 18-13 against the over/under this year

Key Providence Friars Injuries

11/15/17 F Emmitt Holt Abdominal is out for season

Key Xavier Musketeers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Rodney Bullock averages 14.1 points per game while playing 32 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 5.8 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is at 73%. Alpha Diallo averages 12.3 points per game in 29.7 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.2 assists per contest and 6.4 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 47% for the year while his free throw percentage is 73%.

Player Spotlight

Trevon Bluiett averages 19.4 points per game while playing 34.2 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 5.6 rebounds per game and has 2.6 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is at 85%. J.P. Macura averages 12.4 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 29.4 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.3 rebounds per contest and 3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is 84%.

Useful Team Statistics

Providence averages 74.0 points per contest this season, which ranks them 173rd in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 1.2 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 183rd. Behind the arc they shoot 35%, which is good for 196th in the country. They average 35.5 rebounds per game and 13.9 assists per game, which ranks them 168th and 158th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 195th with 12.7 per game. The Friars allow 72.7 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 187th in Division 1. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 32% average from behind the arc, ranking them 221st and 38th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 35.4 rebounds a game which ranks 212th and they give up 12.6 assists per contest, which puts them in 116th place in college basketball. They force 13.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 224th in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Xavier is 10th in the country with 84.5 points per game this year. They are 15th in D-1 in shooting at 50%, while their average scoring margin is 9.6. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 77th in college basketball. They are 62nd in the nation in rebounding with 38.1 boards per game, and 19th in assists per contest with 16.7. The Musketeers are 201st in turnovers per game with 12.7. The Musketeers surrender 74.9 points per contest, which ranks them 244th in the country. Their defense allows a 43% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 151st and 145th in those defensive statistics. They rank 280th with 14.6 assists allowed per contest and 23rd with 31.1 rebounds surrendered per game. The Musketeers are 53rd in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 11.5 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Friars are 187th in the nation in offensive rating with 104.4, and their defensive rating of 102.6 is ranked 182nd. In terms of pace they are 139th in the country with 70.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 50% is 220th. As a team they are 201st in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shots, ranking 286th in Division 1. Providence is 211th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.8 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 188th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Xavier is 235th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 175th in the nation. The Musketeers are 13th in the country in offensive rating with 116, and their defensive rating of 102.8 is ranked 188th. In terms of pace they are 55th in Division 1 with 72.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 56% is 19th. As a team they are 11th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 61% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 210th in the nation.

Who will win tonight's Providence/Xavier college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Xavier -6

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