Radford at Villanova College Basketball Picks & Predictions 3/15/2018

Thursday, March 15, 2018

PPG Paints Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Radford Highlanders travel to PPG Paints Arena to play the Villanova Wildcats on Thursday, March 15, 2018. The opening line for this game has Villanova as 23.5 point favorites.

Radford heads into this matchup with a mark of 19-12. They currently have a point differential of 3.2 as they are averaging 67.5 points per contest while giving up 64.3 per game. Villanova has an overall record of 27-4. They are averaging 87.1 points per game and surrendering 70.9, good for a point differential of 16.2.

Valuable Radford Highlanders Betting Trends

The Radford Highlanders are 6-4 against the spread this season

The Radford Highlanders are 3-3 against the over/under this year

Important Villanova Wildcats Betting Trends

The Villanova Wildcats are 21-12 against the spread this season

The Villanova Wildcats are 21-10 against the over/under this year

Key Radford Highlanders Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Villanova Wildcats Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Ed Polite, Jr. averages 13.5 points per game while playing 32.1 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 7.9 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.5 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 53% while his free throw percentage is at 73%. Carlik Jones averages 11.8 points per game in 30.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3.1 assists per contest and 3.9 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 42% for the year while his free throw percentage is 76%.

Player Spotlight

Jalen Brunson averages 19.4 points per game while playing 31.9 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 3.1 rebounds per game and has 4.7 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 53% and his free throw percentage is at 80%. Mikal Bridges averages 18 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 32.6 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.4 rebounds per contest and 2.1 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 52% and his free throw percentage is 85%.

Useful Team Statistics

Radford averages 67.5 points per contest this season, which ranks them 311th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 3.2 and their shooting percentage is 43% as a team, which has them ranked 273rd. Behind the arc they shoot 35%, which is good for 177th in the country. They average 34.7 rebounds per game and 12.3 assists per game, which ranks them 212th and 271st in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 242nd with 12.2 per game. The Highlanders allow 64.3 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 14th in Division 1. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the arc, ranking them 102nd and 150th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 31.5 rebounds a game which ranks 30th and they give up 11.2 assists per contest, which puts them in 35th place in college basketball. They force 13.0 turnovers per game which ranks them 176th in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Villanova is 1st in the country with 87.1 points per game this year. They are 6th in D-1 in shooting at 50%, while their average scoring margin is 16.2. They shoot 40% from 3-point range, which is good for 22nd in college basketball. They are 169th in the nation in rebounding with 35.5 boards per game, and 19th in assists per contest with 16.7. The Wildcats are 340th in turnovers per game with 10.4. The Wildcats surrender 70.9 points per contest, which ranks them 142nd in the country. Their defense allows a 43% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 150th and 63rd in those defensive statistics. They rank 232nd with 14.0 assists allowed per contest and 65th with 32.6 rebounds surrendered per game. The Wildcats are 181st in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 13.1 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Highlanders are 88th in the country in defensive rating with 99.7, and their offensive rating of 104.7 is ranked 171st. They are 350th in college basketball in pace with 63.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 50% is 247th. As a unit they are 251st in the nation in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shot attempts, ranking 119th in D-1. Radford is 168th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17.7 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 49%, which is 116th in the country.

Advanced Statistics

Villanova is 343rd in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 49%, which is 104th in Division 1. The Wildcats are 93rd in the nation in defensive rating with 99.9, and their offensive rating of 122.7 is ranked 1st. They are 143rd in D-1 in pace with 70.2 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 60% is 2nd. As a unit they are 2nd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 62% and they shoot 3-pointers on 47% of their shot attempts, ranking 18th in the country.

Who will win tonight's Radford/Villanova college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Villanova -23.5

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