South Carolina at Arkansas College Basketball Picks & Predictions 3/8/2018

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Scottrade Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The South Carolina Gamecocks travel to Scottrade Center to play the Arkansas Razorbacks on Thursday, March 8, 2018. The opening line for this game has Arkansas as 5 point favorites.

South Carolina heads into this matchup with a mark of 16-15. They currently have a point differential of 1.3 as they are averaging 69.8 points per contest while giving up 68.5 per game. Arkansas has an overall record of 21-10. They are averaging 82.0 points per game and surrendering 75.7, good for a point differential of 6.3.

Valuable South Carolina Gamecocks Betting Trends

The South Carolina Gamecocks are 15-14 against the spread this season

The South Carolina Gamecocks are 13-15 against the over/under this year

Important Arkansas Razorbacks Betting Trends

The Arkansas Razorbacks are 16-15 against the spread this season

The Arkansas Razorbacks are 17-14 against the over/under this year

Key South Carolina Gamecocks Injuries

02/19/18 G Kory Holden Left Team is out for season

Key Arkansas Razorbacks Injuries

11/05/17 G Khalil Garland Medical is out indefinitely
03/06/18 G C.J. Jones Knee is questionable Thursday vs
03/06/18 F Dustin Thomas Dismissed is out for season

Player Spotlight

Chris Silva averages 14.1 points per game while playing 25.2 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 7.8 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.1 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage is at 76%. Frank Booker averages 12.5 points per game in 26.7 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.3 assists per contest and 3.5 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 43% for the year while his free throw percentage is 78%.

Player Spotlight

Jaylen Barford averages 17.9 points per game while playing 31.3 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 3.9 rebounds per game and has 2.7 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 70%. Daryl Macon averages 17.1 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 30.8 minutes per contest. He also averages 2.8 rebounds per contest and 4 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is 86%.

Useful Team Statistics

South Carolina averages 69.8 points per contest this season, which ranks them 270th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 1.3 and their shooting percentage is 40% as a team, which has them ranked 347th. Behind the arc they shoot 33%, which is good for 271st in the country. They average 36.9 rebounds per game and 12.7 assists per game, which ranks them 96th and 247th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 103rd with 13.6 per game. The Gamecocks allow 68.5 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 79th in Division 1. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the arc, ranking them 88th and 87th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 33.6 rebounds a game which ranks 115th and they give up 11.4 assists per contest, which puts them in 45th place in college basketball. They force 14.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 301st in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Arkansas is 30th in the country with 82.0 points per game this year. They are 30th in D-1 in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 6.3. They shoot 40% from 3-point range, which is good for 14th in college basketball. They are 197th in the nation in rebounding with 35.0 boards per game, and 90th in assists per contest with 15.0. The Razorbacks are 322nd in turnovers per game with 11.1. The Razorbacks surrender 75.7 points per contest, which ranks them 265th in the country. Their defense allows a 43% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 91st and 164th in those defensive statistics. They rank 193rd with 13.5 assists allowed per contest and 247th with 36.1 rebounds surrendered per game. The Razorbacks are 263rd in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 14.1 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Gamecocks are 286th in the nation in offensive rating with 99.7, and their defensive rating of 97.8 is ranked 50th. In terms of pace they are 190th in the country with 69.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 46% is 337th. As a team they are 330th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 51% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shots, ranking 170th in Division 1. South Carolina is 135th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 18.8 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 49%, which is 84th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Arkansas is 330th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.8 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 137th in Division 1. The Razorbacks are 221st in the nation in defensive rating with 104, and their offensive rating of 112.6 is ranked 35th. They are 64th in D-1 in pace with 72 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 55% is 46th. As a unit they are 75th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shot attempts, ranking 299th in the country.

Who will win tonight's South Carolina/Arkansas college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Arkansas -5

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