SMU at Connecticut College Basketball Picks & Predictions 1/25/2018

Thursday, January 25, 2018

Gampel Pavilion

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The SMU Mustangs head to Gampel Pavilion to take on the Connecticut Huskies on Thursday, January 25, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has SMU as 4.5 point favorites.

SMU comes into this game with an overall record of 14-6. They currently have a point differential of 12.0 as they are averaging 74.0 points per game while giving up 62.0 per contest. Connecticut has an overall mark of 10-9. They are averaging 68.4 points per contest and giving up 72.0, which is a point differential of -3.6.

Valuable SMU Mustangs Betting Trends

The SMU Mustangs are 6-8 against the spread this season

The SMU Mustangs are 7-8 against the over/under this year

Important Connecticut Huskies Betting Trends

The Connecticut Huskies are 6-10 against the spread this season

The Connecticut Huskies are 7-9 against the over/under this year

Key SMU Mustangs Injuries

01/24/18 G Jarrey Foster ACL is out for season
01/22/18 F Everett Ray Foot is out for season

Key Connecticut Huskies Injuries

12/23/17 G Alterique Gilbert Shoulder is out for season
11/07/17 G Sidney Wilson Eligibility is out indefinitely
01/24/18 G Terry Larrier Nose is OUT 7-10 days
01/08/18 F Eric Cobb Suspension is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Shake Milton averages 18.4 points per contest while playing 36.6 minutes per night this year. He grabs 4.6 rebounds per contest and distributes 4.6 assists per game. His FG percentage is 42% while his free throw percentage is 84%. Ethan Chargois averages 11.1 points per contest in 22.8 minutes per game this year. He averages 1.2 assists per game and 4.9 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 50% for the season while his free throw percentage is 65%.

Player Spotlight

Jalen Adams scores 18.5 points per contest while playing 38.4 minutes per game this season. He hauls in 4.9 rebounds per contest and has 4.2 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is at 83%. Christian Vital averages 13.9 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 29.8 minutes per game. He also brings in 4.6 rebounds per game and has 1.4 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 38% and his free throw percentage is 83%.

Useful Team Statistics

SMU averages 74.0 points per contest this year, which is 182nd in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 12.0 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a unit, which has them ranked 65th. From 3-point territory they shoot 41%, which is good for 13th in Division 1. They average 34.3 boards per contest and 16.5 assists per game, which ranks them 251st and 38th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 307th with 11.7 per game. The Mustangs allow 62.0 points per contest, which is 6th in the country. They also surrender a 41% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 68th and 147th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 31.7 rebounds a game which ranks 40th, and they allow 13.1 assists per game which puts them in 152nd place in college basketball. They force 15.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 286th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Connecticut is 300th in the country with 68.4 points per contest this season. They are 334th in the nation in shooting at 40%, while their average scoring margin is -3.6. They shoot 30% from beyond the arc, which is good for 333rd in Division 1. They are 155th in the country in rebounding with 36.3 boards per contest and 348th in assists per game with 9.7. The Huskies are 193rd in turnovers per contest with 13.1. The Huskies give up 72.0 points per game, which ranks them 171st in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 43% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 130th and 232nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 184th with 13.5 dimes allowed per game and 267th with 36.9 boards surrendered per contest. The Huskies are 195th in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 13.8 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Mustangs are 33rd in the nation in offensive rating with 113.3, and their defensive rating of 94.9 is ranked 44th. In terms of pace they are 344th in the country with 65.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 55% is 49th. As a team they are 63rd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shots, ranking 158th in Division 1. SMU is 253rd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 20.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 49%, which is 118th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Connecticut is 188th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 185th in Division 1. The Huskies are 197th in the nation in defensive rating with 102.3, and their offensive rating of 97.2 is ranked 313th. They are 263rd in D-1 in pace with 68.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 46% is 336th. As a unit they are 325th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 50% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shot attempts, ranking 264th in the country.

Who will win tonight's SMU/Connecticut college basketball game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take SMU -4.5

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