Santa Clara at BYU College Basketball Picks & Predictions 2/8/2018

Thursday, February 8, 2018

Marriott Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Santa Clara Broncos travel to Marriott Center to play the BYU Cougars on Thursday, February 8, 2018. The opening line for this game has BYU as 18 point favorites.

Santa Clara heads into this matchup with a mark of 8-16. They currently have a point differential of -5.4 as they are averaging 66.4 points per contest while giving up 71.8 per game. BYU has an overall record of 18-7. They are averaging 74.6 points per game and surrendering 65.8, good for a point differential of 8.7.

Valuable Santa Clara Broncos Betting Trends

The Santa Clara Broncos are 6-15 against the spread this season

The Santa Clara Broncos are 10-11 against the over/under this year

Important BYU Cougars Betting Trends

The BYU Cougars are 11-10 against the spread this season

The BYU Cougars are 8-14 against the over/under this year

Key Santa Clara Broncos Injuries

02/07/18 G Matt Hauser Foot is "?" Thursday vs BYU
02/07/18 G Shaquille Walters Personal is "?" Thursday vs BYU

Key BYU Cougars Injuries

12/26/17 F Braiden Shaw Foot is out for season
12/26/17 G Kajon Brown Left Team is out for season
11/07/17 G Nick Emery Left Team is out for season
11/05/17 F Ryan Andrus Knee is out for season

Player Spotlight

KJ Feagin averages 17.5 points per game while playing 35.3 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 2.1 rebounds per game and dishes out 4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 50% while his free throw percentage is at 85%. Henry Caruso averages 12.2 points per game in 35.4 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.8 assists per contest and 6.7 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 48% for the year while his free throw percentage is 81%.

Player Spotlight

Elijah Bryant averages 17.9 points per game while playing 33.9 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 6.2 rebounds per game and has 2.4 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 50% and his free throw percentage is at 89%. Yoeli Childs averages 17.5 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 33.7 minutes per contest. He also averages 8.8 rebounds per contest and 2.3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 54% and his free throw percentage is 62%.

Useful Team Statistics

Santa Clara averages 66.4 points per contest this season, which ranks them 320th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is -5.4 and their shooting percentage is 43% as a team, which has them ranked 272nd. Behind the arc they shoot 35%, which is good for 192nd in the country. They average 28.3 rebounds per game and 13.8 assists per game, which ranks them 350th and 170th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 319th with 11.4 per game. The Broncos allow 71.8 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 163rd in Division 1. They also allow a 50% shooting percentage and a 41% average from behind the arc, ranking them 349th and 349th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 34.1 rebounds a game which ranks 132nd and they give up 16.6 assists per contest, which puts them in 341st place in college basketball. They force 13.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 160th in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

BYU is 162nd in the country with 74.6 points per game this year. They are 20th in D-1 in shooting at 49%, while their average scoring margin is 8.7. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 87th in college basketball. They are 301st in the nation in rebounding with 33.0 boards per game, and 55th in assists per contest with 15.9. The Cougars are 268th in turnovers per game with 12.2. The Cougars surrender 65.8 points per contest, which ranks them 36th in the country. Their defense allows a 45% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 217th and 133rd in those defensive statistics. They rank 111th with 12.5 assists allowed per contest and 11th with 30.2 rebounds surrendered per game. The Cougars are 108th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 12.6 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Broncos are 265th in the nation in offensive rating with 100.7, and their defensive rating of 108.8 is ranked 309th. In terms of pace they are 338th in the country with 65.6 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 50% is 214th. As a team they are 231st in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 42% of their shots, ranking 71st in Division 1. Santa Clara is 237th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17.8 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 57%, which is 342nd in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

BYU is 178th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.2 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 199th in the nation. The Cougars are 75th in the country in offensive rating with 109.9, and their defensive rating of 97.1 is ranked 59th. In terms of pace they are 286th in Division 1 with 67.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 56% is 34th. As a team they are 24th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 236th in the nation.

Who will win tonight's Santa Clara/BYU college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take BYU -18

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Tony Sink