USC at Utah College Basketball Picks & Predictions 2/24/2018

Saturday, February 24, 2018

Jon M. Huntsman Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The USC Trojans travel to Jon M. Huntsman Center to play the Utah Utes on Saturday, February 24, 2018. The opening line for this game has Utah as 2.5 point favorites.

USC heads into this matchup with a mark of 20-9. They currently have a point differential of 7.2 as they are averaging 78.6 points per contest while giving up 71.3 per game. Utah has an overall record of 18-9. They are averaging 74.7 points per game and surrendering 69.1, good for a point differential of 5.6.

Valuable USC Trojans Betting Trends

The USC Trojans are 18-11 against the spread this season

The USC Trojans are 10-18 against the over/under this year

Important Utah Utes Betting Trends

The Utah Utes are 14-9 against the spread this season

The Utah Utes are 10-15 against the over/under this year

Key USC Trojans Injuries

12/16/17 G De'Anthony Melton Eligibility is out for season
02/16/18 F Bennie Boatwright Knee is out for season

Key Utah Utes Injuries

02/23/18 G Sedrick Barefield Ribs is "?" Saturday vs USC

Player Spotlight

Chimezie Metu averages 16 points per game while playing 30.3 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 7.2 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.7 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage is at 75%. Jordan McLaughlin averages 12.4 points per game in 34.8 minutes per contest this season. He averages 7.7 assists per contest and 3.8 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 47% for the year while his free throw percentage is 76%.

Player Spotlight

Justin Bibbins averages 14.2 points per game while playing 34.3 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 3 rebounds per game and has 5 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 88%. David Collette averages 13.1 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 22.1 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.9 rebounds per contest and 1.2 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 63% and his free throw percentage is 72%.

Useful Team Statistics

USC averages 78.6 points per contest this season, which ranks them 66th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 7.2 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a team, which has them ranked 68th. Behind the arc they shoot 39%, which is good for 42nd in the country. They average 35.0 rebounds per game and 16.3 assists per game, which ranks them 201st and 35th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 337th with 10.7 per game. The Trojans allow 71.3 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 152nd in Division 1. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 198th and 218th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 33.4 rebounds a game which ranks 104th and they give up 13.9 assists per contest, which puts them in 221st place in college basketball. They force 13.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 197th in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Utah is 156th in the country with 74.7 points per game this year. They are 126th in D-1 in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 5.6. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 104th in college basketball. They are 235th in the nation in rebounding with 34.3 boards per game, and 49th in assists per contest with 16.0. The Utes are 262nd in turnovers per game with 12.1. The Utes surrender 69.1 points per contest, which ranks them 93rd in the country. Their defense allows a 42% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 61st and 161st in those defensive statistics. They rank 55th with 11.6 assists allowed per contest and 187th with 34.9 rebounds surrendered per game. The Utes are 107th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 12.4 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Trojans are 183rd in the country in defensive rating with 102.4, and their offensive rating of 112.8 is ranked 32nd. They are 212th in college basketball in pace with 69.1 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 71st. As a unit they are 80th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 206th in D-1. USC is 334th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 214th in the country.

Advanced Statistics

Utah is 208th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.6 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 48%, which is 64th in Division 1. The Utes are 124th in the nation in defensive rating with 100.6, and their offensive rating of 108.8 is ranked 97th. They are 245th in D-1 in pace with 68.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 62nd. As a unit they are 49th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 46% of their shot attempts, ranking 20th in the country.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Utah -2.5

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