UMBC at Virginia College Basketball Picks & Predictions 3/16/2018

Friday, March 16, 2018

Spectrum Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The UMBC Retrievers travel to Spectrum Center to play the Virginia Cavaliers on Friday, March 16, 2018. The opening line for this game has Virginia as 22.5 point favorites.

UMBC heads into this matchup with a mark of 21-10. They currently have a point differential of 4.4 as they are averaging 73.9 points per contest while giving up 69.5 per game. Virginia has an overall record of 28-2. They are averaging 67.5 points per game and surrendering 53.4, good for a point differential of 14.2.

Valuable UMBC Retrievers Betting Trends

The UMBC Retrievers are 4-1 against the spread this season

The UMBC Retrievers are 1-1 against the over/under this year

Important Virginia Cavaliers Betting Trends

The Virginia Cavaliers are 20-9 against the spread this season

The Virginia Cavaliers are 7-20 against the over/under this year

Key UMBC Retrievers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Virginia Cavaliers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Jairus Lyles averages 20.2 points per game while playing 34.6 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 5.6 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.5 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 41% while his free throw percentage is at 80%. K.J. Maura averages 11.4 points per game in 34.9 minutes per contest this season. He averages 5.2 assists per contest and 2.2 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 47% for the year while his free throw percentage is 87%.

Player Spotlight

Kyle Guy averages 14.1 points per game while playing 32.2 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 2.5 rebounds per game and has 1.5 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is at 84%. Devon Hall averages 12 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 32.2 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.3 rebounds per contest and 3.2 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is 89%.

Useful Team Statistics

UMBC averages 73.9 points per contest this season, which ranks them 170th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 4.4 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 188th. Behind the arc they shoot 39%, which is good for 35th in the country. They average 34.8 rebounds per game and 15.4 assists per game, which ranks them 202nd and 61st in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 252nd with 12.1 per game. The Retrievers allow 69.5 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 101st in Division 1. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 192nd and 205th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 36.2 rebounds a game which ranks 250th and they give up 13.2 assists per contest, which puts them in 165th place in college basketball. They force 14.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 307th in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Virginia is 310th in the country with 67.5 points per game this year. They are 104th in D-1 in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 14.2. They shoot 39% from 3-point range, which is good for 29th in college basketball. They are 314th in the nation in rebounding with 32.6 boards per game, and 165th in assists per contest with 13.7. The Cavaliers are 351st in turnovers per game with 8.6. The Cavaliers surrender 53.4 points per contest, which ranks them 1st in the country. Their defense allows a 38% shooting percentage and a 30% average from 3-point range, ranking them 3rd and 6th in those defensive statistics. They rank 1st with 8.8 assists allowed per contest and 16th with 30.8 rebounds surrendered per game. The Cavaliers are 152nd in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 12.7 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Retrievers are 133rd in the nation in offensive rating with 106.4, and their defensive rating of 100 is ranked 94th. In terms of pace they are 186th in the country with 69.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 93rd. As a team they are 143rd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 45% of their shots, ranking 38th in Division 1. UMBC is 241st in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 18.7 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 219th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Virginia is 346th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 18.4 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 44%, which is 3rd in Division 1. The Cavaliers are 2nd in the nation in defensive rating with 87.9, and their offensive rating of 111.2 is ranked 49th. They are 351st in D-1 in pace with 60.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 97th. As a unit they are 115th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 249th in the country.

Who will win tonight's UMBC/Virginia college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Virginia -22.5

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