SMU at Houston College Basketball Picks & Predictions 2/8/2018

Thursday, February 8, 2018

H&PE Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The SMU Mustangs travel to H&PE Arena to play the Houston Cougars on Thursday, February 8, 2018. The opening line for this game has Houston as 8 point favorites.

SMU heads into this matchup with a mark of 15-8. They currently have a point differential of 10.7 as they are averaging 73.2 points per contest while giving up 62.6 per game. Houston has an overall record of 17-5. They are averaging 77.6 points per game and surrendering 66.3, good for a point differential of 11.3.

Valuable SMU Mustangs Betting Trends

The SMU Mustangs are 7-10 against the spread this season

The SMU Mustangs are 9-9 against the over/under this year

Important Houston Cougars Betting Trends

The Houston Cougars are 10-8 against the spread this season

The Houston Cougars are 7-10 against the over/under this year

Key SMU Mustangs Injuries

02/07/18 G Shake Milton Hand is out indefinitely
01/24/18 G Jarrey Foster ACL is out for season
01/22/18 F Everett Ray Foot is out for season

Key Houston Cougars Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Jahmal McMurray averages 11.7 points per game while playing 25.9 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 2.5 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.6 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 46% while his free throw percentage is at 78%. Ben Emelogu averages 10.7 points per game in 31.1 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.7 assists per contest and 5 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 50% for the year while his free throw percentage is 60%.

Player Spotlight

Robert Gray Jr. averages 18.3 points per game while playing 30.9 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 3.4 rebounds per game and has 4.2 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is at 82%. Corey Davis Jr. averages 12.9 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 28.5 minutes per contest. He also averages 2.6 rebounds per contest and 3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is 75%.

Useful Team Statistics

SMU averages 73.2 points per contest this season, which ranks them 202nd in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 10.7 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a team, which has them ranked 87th. Behind the arc they shoot 40%, which is good for 21st in the country. They average 34.3 rebounds per game and 15.9 assists per game, which ranks them 240th and 54th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 316th with 11.4 per game. The Mustangs allow 62.6 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 6th in Division 1. They also allow a 41% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the arc, ranking them 56th and 130th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 32.0 rebounds a game which ranks 45th and they give up 13.3 assists per contest, which puts them in 170th place in college basketball. They force 14.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 260th in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Houston is 83rd in the country with 77.6 points per game this year. They are 105th in D-1 in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 11.3. They shoot 38% from 3-point range, which is good for 47th in college basketball. They are 32nd in the nation in rebounding with 39.2 boards per game, and 109th in assists per contest with 14.8. The Cougars are 250th in turnovers per game with 12.3. The Cougars surrender 66.3 points per contest, which ranks them 41st in the country. Their defense allows a 40% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 13th and 61st in those defensive statistics. They rank 36th with 11.2 assists allowed per contest and 92nd with 33.2 rebounds surrendered per game. The Cougars are 180th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 13.4 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Mustangs are 34th in the nation in offensive rating with 112.9, and their defensive rating of 96.4 is ranked 51st. In terms of pace they are 344th in the country with 64.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 55% is 58th. As a team they are 75th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shots, ranking 127th in Division 1. SMU is 270th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 19.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 49%, which is 111th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Houston is 264th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 46%, which is 17th in Division 1. The Cougars are 36th in the nation in defensive rating with 95.4, and their offensive rating of 111.7 is ranked 51st. They are 208th in D-1 in pace with 69.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 97th. As a unit they are 112th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 208th in the country.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Houston -8

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