USC at California College Basketball Picks & Predictions 1/4/2018

Thursday, January 4, 2018

Haas Pavilion

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The USC Trojans travel to Haas Pavilion to play the California Golden Bears on Thursday, January 4, 2018. The opening line for this game has USC as 6.5 point favorites.

USC comes into this game with an overall record of 10-5. They currently have a point differential of 8.1 as they are averaging 82.0 points per game while giving up 73.9 per contest. California has an overall record of 7-7. They are averaging 76.1 points per game and surrendering 79.6, good for a point differential of -3.6.

Valuable USC Trojans Betting Trends

The USC Trojans are 9-6 against the spread this season

The USC Trojans are 8-6 against the over/under this year

Important California Golden Bears Betting Trends

The California Golden Bears are 5-7 against the spread this season

The California Golden Bears are 7-3 against the over/under this year

Key USC Trojans Injuries

12/16/17 G De'Anthony Melton Eligibility is out indefinitely
12/08/17 G Derryck Thornton Shoulder is out indefinitely
01/03/18 F Chimezie Metu Suspension is OUT 1st Half Thursday vs California

Key California Golden Bears Injuries

11/16/17 F Cole Welle Thumb is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Chimezie Metu averages 17.8 points per game while playing 30.3 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 7.6 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.6 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 38% while his free throw percentage is at 73%. Bennie Boatwright averages 16.8 points per game in 30.4 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.3 assists per contest and 7 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 45% for the year while his free throw percentage is 73%.

Player Spotlight

Don Coleman averages 20.1 points per game while playing 36.4 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 3.6 rebounds per game and has 2.5 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 38% and his free throw percentage is at 75%. Darius McNeill averages 13.4 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 30.4 minutes per contest. He also averages 3.1 rebounds per contest and 2.5 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 50% and his free throw percentage is 73%.

Useful Team Statistics

USC averages 82.0 points per contest this season, which ranks them 49th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 8.1 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 80th. Behind the arc they shoot 38%, which is good for 66th in the country. They average 37.9 rebounds per game and 16.6 assists per game, which ranks them 104th and 48th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 308th with 11.7 per game. The Trojans allow 73.9 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 221st in Division 1. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 190th and 268th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 32.2 rebounds a game which ranks 63rd and they give up 13.7 assists per contest, which puts them in 213th place in college basketball. They force 12.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 105th in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

California is 147th in the country with 76.1 points per game this year. They are 172nd in D-1 in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is -3.6. They shoot 34% from 3-point range, which is good for 218th in college basketball. They are 149th in the nation in rebounding with 37.0 boards per game, and 336th in assists per contest with 10.7. The Golden Bears are 54th in turnovers per game with 15.3. The Golden Bears surrender 79.6 points per contest, which ranks them 316th in the country. Their defense allows a 45% shooting percentage and a 38% average from 3-point range, ranking them 250th and 295th in those defensive statistics. They rank 320th with 16.4 assists allowed per contest and 134th with 34.1 rebounds surrendered per game. The Golden Bears are 150th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 13.5 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Trojans are 222nd in the country in defensive rating with 102.5, and their offensive rating of 113.8 is ranked 46th. They are 182nd in college basketball in pace with 70.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 55% is 76th. As a unit they are 74th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 194th in D-1. USC is 318th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.6 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 234th in the country.

Advanced Statistics

California is 86th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 275th in Division 1. The Golden Bears are 293rd in the nation in defensive rating with 107.8, and their offensive rating of 103 is ranked 213th. They are 67th in D-1 in pace with 73.2 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 49% is 254th. As a unit they are 225th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 24% of their shot attempts, ranking 347th in the country.

Who will win tonight's USC/California college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take California +6.5

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