Rhode Island at Duke College Basketball Picks & Predictions 3/17/2018

Saturday, March 17, 2018

PPG Paints Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Rhode Island Rams head to PPG Paints Arena to take on the Duke Blue Devils on Saturday, March 17, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Duke as 9.5 point favorites.

Rhode Island heads into this matchup with a mark of 26-7. They currently have a point differential of 8.2 as they are averaging 76.4 points per contest while giving up 68.2 per game. Duke has an overall mark of 27-7. They are averaging 84.8 points per contest and giving up 69.5, which is a point differential of 15.3.

Valuable Rhode Island Rams Betting Trends

The Rhode Island Rams are 16-14 against the spread this season

The Rhode Island Rams are 14-13 against the over/under this year

Important Duke Blue Devils Betting Trends

The Duke Blue Devils are 21-11 against the spread this season

The Duke Blue Devils are 16-13 against the over/under this year

Key Rhode Island Rams Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Duke Blue Devils Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Jared Terrell averages 17 points per contest while playing 33.1 minutes per night this year. He grabs 3.5 rebounds per contest and distributes 2.4 assists per game. His FG percentage is 61% while his free throw percentage is 83%. E.C. Matthews averages 13.2 points per contest in 28.4 minutes per game this year. He averages 0.9 assists per game and 4 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 43% for the season while his free throw percentage is 75%.

Player Spotlight

Marvin Bagley III scores 21.1 points per contest while playing 33.2 minutes per game this season. He hauls in 11.3 rebounds per contest and has 1.5 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 61% and his free throw percentage is at 62%. Grayson Allen averages 15.7 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 35.1 minutes per game. He also brings in 3.5 rebounds per game and has 4.6 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is 85%.

Useful Team Statistics

Rhode Island averages 76.4 points per contest this year, which is 93rd in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 8.2 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a unit, which has them ranked 123rd. From 3-point territory they shoot 35%, which is good for 166th in Division 1. They average 34.6 boards per contest and 15.3 assists per game, which ranks them 219th and 66th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 337th with 10.6 per game. The Rams allow 68.2 points per contest, which is 68th in the country. They also surrender a 45% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 234th and 51st in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 34.4 rebounds a game which ranks 152nd, and they allow 11.4 assists per game which puts them in 44th place in college basketball. They force 15.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 337th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Duke is 7th in the country with 84.8 points per contest this season. They are 13th in the nation in shooting at 50%, while their average scoring margin is 15.3. They shoot 38% from beyond the arc, which is good for 47th in Division 1. They are 3rd in the country in rebounding with 41.7 boards per contest and 7th in assists per game with 17.7. The Blue Devils are 207th in turnovers per contest with 12.6. The Blue Devils give up 69.5 points per game, which ranks them 102nd in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 40% shooting percentage and a 32% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 12th and 24th in those defensive statistics. They rank 264th with 14.4 dimes allowed per game and 53rd with 32.4 boards surrendered per contest. The Blue Devils are 84th in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 11.9 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Rams are 76th in the nation in offensive rating with 109.5, and their defensive rating of 97.8 is ranked 48th. In terms of pace they are 202nd in the country with 69.2 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 172nd. As a team they are 182nd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shots, ranking 301st in Division 1. Rhode Island is 340th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13 times per 100 possessions while forcing 20.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 144th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Duke is 265th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.4 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 46%, which is 11th in Division 1. The Blue Devils are 41st in the nation in defensive rating with 97.6, and their offensive rating of 119.1 is ranked 3rd. They are 96th in D-1 in pace with 71 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 56% is 19th. As a unit they are 25th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 216th in the country.

Who will win tonight's Rhode Island/Duke college basketball game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Rhode Island +9.5

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