Texas Tech at Duke College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/20/2018

Thursday, December 20, 2018

Madison Square Garden

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Texas Tech Red Raiders travel to Madison Square Garden to play the Duke Blue Devils on Thursday, December 20, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Duke as 7.5 point favorites.

Texas Tech heads into this matchup with a mark of 10-0. They currently have a point differential of 26.3 as they are averaging 77.5 points per contest while giving up 51.2 per game. Duke has an overall mark of 10-1. They are averaging 93.6 points per contest and giving up 64.3, which is a point differential of 29.4.

Valuable Texas Tech Red Raiders Betting Trends

The Texas Tech Red Raiders are 5-5-0 against the spread

The Texas Tech Red Raiders are 3-7-0 against the over/under

Important Duke Blue Devils Betting Trends

The Duke Blue Devils are 7-4-0 against the spread

The Duke Blue Devils are 2-9-0 against the over/under

Key Texas Tech Red Raiders Injuries

11/19/18 F Khavon Moore Leg is out indefinitely

Key Duke Blue Devils Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Jarrett Culver comes into this contest averaging 19.1 points per game while playing 29.1 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 5.7 rebounds per game and dishes out 4.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 48% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 70%. Matt Mooney averages 11.0 points per game in 27.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3.3 assists per contest and 4.0 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 47% for the year while his free throw percentage is 70%.

Player Spotlight

R.J. Barrett averages 24.5 points per game while playing 30.5 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 7.1 rebounds per game and has 4.1 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is at 65%. Zion Williamson averages 20.1 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 26.3 minutes per contest. He also averages 9.1 rebounds per contest and 2.5 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 67% and his free throw percentage is 68%.

Useful Team Statistics

Texas Tech averages 77.5 points per contest this season, which ranks them 106th in the NCAA. Their average scoring margin is 26.3 and their shooting percentage is 50% as a team, which has them ranked 17th. Behind the arc they shoot 38% which is good for 64th in the nation. They average 37.2 rebounds per game and 14.7 assists per game, which ranks them 142nd and 116th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 311th with 11.5 per game. The Red Raiders allow 51.2 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 1st in the country. They also allow a 32% shooting percentage and a 25% average from behind the arc, ranking them 1st and 4th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 30.2 rebounds a game which ranks 19th and they give up 8.0 assists per contest, which puts them in 2nd place in Division 1. They force 16.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 315th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Duke is 5th in the country with 93.6 points per game this year. They are 12th in Division 1 in shooting at 50%, while their average scoring margin is 29.4. They shoot 34% from 3-point range, which is good for 200th in the nation. They are 2nd in the NCAA in rebounding with 46.3 boards per game, and 9th in assists per contest with 18.9. The Blue Devils are 266th in turnovers per game with 12.3. The Blue Devils surrender 64.3 points per contest, which ranks them 47th in D-1. Their defense allows a 37% shooting percentage and a 28% average from 3-point range, ranking them 5th and 25th in those defensive statistics. They rank 219th with 13.6 assists allowed per contest and 185th with 35.4 rebounds surrendered per game. The Blue Devils are 318th in country in forcing turnovers with 16.9 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Red Raiders are 29th in the nation in offensive rating with 113.8. In terms of pace they are 291st in the country with 68.1 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 56% is 40th. As a team they are 53rd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 31% of their shots, ranking 326th in Division 1. Texas Tech is 281st in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.7 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Duke is 339th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.3 times per 100 possessions. The Blue Devils have an offensive rating of 122.6, which is ranked 2nd. They are 20th in D-1 in pace with 76.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 56% is 25th. As a unit they are 39th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shot attempts, ranking 215th in the country.

Who will win tonight's Texas Tech/Duke college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Duke -7.5

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