UC Irvine at Butler College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/21/2018

Friday, December 21, 2018

Hinkle Fieldhouse

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The UC Irvine Anteaters head to Hinkle Fieldhouse to take on the Butler Bulldogs on Friday, December 21, 2018. The opening line for this game has Butler as 9.5 point favorites.

UC Irvine heads into this matchup with a mark of 11-2. They currently have a point differential of 8.5 as they are averaging 70.2 points per contest while giving up 61.7 per game. Butler has an overall mark of 8-3. They are averaging 75.2 points per contest and giving up 64.4, which is a point differential of 10.8.

Valuable UC Irvine Anteaters Betting Trends

The UC Irvine Anteaters are 8-4-0 against the spread this season

The UC Irvine Anteaters are 5-7-0 against the over/under this year

Important Butler Bulldogs Betting Trends

The Butler Bulldogs are 4-7-0 against the spread this season

The Butler Bulldogs are 3-8-0 against the over/under this year

Key UC Irvine Anteaters Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Butler Bulldogs Injuries

12/20/18 C Nate Fowler Knee injured last game, is questionable Friday vs Cal Irvine
11/09/18 F Bryce Golden Shoulder is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Max Hazzard comes into this game averaging 10.7 points per contest while playing 24.4 minutes per night this year. He grabs 1.7 rebounds per contest and distributes 1.8 assists per game. His FG percentage is 42% while his free throw percentage is 61%. Evan Leonard averages 9.0 points per contest in 21.1 minutes per game. He averages 1.1 assists per game and 2.4 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 37% for the season while his free throw percentage is 87%.

Player Spotlight

Kamar Baldwin scores 16.4 points per contest while playing 33.9 minutes per game. He hauls in 5.7 rebounds per contest and has 4.3 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is at 84%. Paul Jorgensen averages 14.9 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 30.6 minutes per game. He also brings in 3.9 rebounds per game and has 1.6 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is 79%.

Useful Team Statistics

UC Irvine averages 70.2 points per contest, which is 278th in D-1. Their average scoring margin is 8.5 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a unit, which has them ranked 235th. From 3-point territory they shoot 36%, which is good for 109th in the nation. They average 40.2 boards per contest and 12.3 assists per game, which ranks them 43rd and 265th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 259th with 12.4 per game. The Anteaters allow 61.7 points per contest, which is 20th in the NCAA. They also surrender a 38% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 15th and 157th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 33.8 rebounds a game which ranks 120th, and they allow 9.8 assists per game which puts them in 22nd place in the country. They force 12.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 83rd in Division 1.

Useful Team Statistics

Butler is 165th in the nation with 75.2 points per contest this season. They are 83rd in the country in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 10.8. They shoot 37% from beyond the arc, which is good for 73rd in the NCAA. They are 309th in D-1 in rebounding with 32.7 boards per contest and 75th in assists per game with 15.4. The Bulldogs are 340th in turnovers per contest with 10.5. The Bulldogs give up 64.4 points per game, which ranks them 47th in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 43% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 186th and 212th in those defensive statistics. They rank 33rd with 10.4 dimes allowed per game and 61st with 32.0 boards surrendered per contest. The Bulldogs are 170th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 14.0 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Anteaters are 167th in the nation in offensive rating with 104.9. In terms of pace they are 323rd in the country with 66.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 50% is 252nd. As a team they are 260th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 52% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shots, ranking 318th in Division 1. UC Irvine is 227th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.6 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Butler is 322nd in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.9 times per 100 possessions. The Bulldogs are 30th in the country in offensive rating with 113.8. In terms of pace they are 338th in Division 1 with 66.1 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 55% is 52nd. As a team they are 49th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 43% of their shots, ranking 72nd in the nation.

Who will win tonight's UC Irvine/Butler college basketball game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take UC Irvine +9.5

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