VCU at Saint Joseph's College Basketball Picks & Predictions 1/3/2018

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Hagan Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The VCU Rams travel to Hagan Arena to play the Saint Joseph's Hawks on Wednesday, January 3, 2018. The opening line for this game has Saint Joseph's as 2 point favorites.

VCU comes into this game with an overall record of 9-5. They currently have a point differential of 4.4 as they are averaging 77.7 points per game while giving up 73.4 per contest. Saint Joseph's has an overall record of 5-7. They are averaging 73.6 points per game and surrendering 75.8, good for a point differential of -2.3.

Valuable VCU Rams Betting Trends

The VCU Rams are 5-5 against the spread this season

The VCU Rams are 4-6 against the over/under this year

Important Saint Joseph's Hawks Betting Trends

The Saint Joseph's Hawks are 4-6 against the spread this season

The Saint Joseph's Hawks are 7-3 against the over/under this year

Key VCU Rams Injuries

11/10/17 G Marcus Evans Transferred is out for season

Key Saint Joseph's Hawks Injuries

11/17/17 G Lamarr Kimble Foot is out for season
11/05/17 F Charlie Brown Wrist is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Justin Tillman averages 18.3 points per game while playing 28.6 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 8.7 rebounds per game and dishes out 0.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage is at 80%. De'Riante Jenkins averages 13 points per game in 30 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.9 assists per contest and 4.3 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 44% for the year while his free throw percentage is 63%.

Player Spotlight

James Demery averages 17.3 points per game while playing 34.9 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 5.8 rebounds per game and has 1.1 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 59%. Shavar Newkirk averages 17.1 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 30.3 minutes per contest. He also averages 3.3 rebounds per contest and 3.2 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 37% and his free throw percentage is 80%.

Useful Team Statistics

VCU averages 77.7 points per contest this season, which ranks them 110th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 4.4 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 135th. Behind the arc they shoot 38%, which is good for 77th in the country. They average 37.1 rebounds per game and 15.6 assists per game, which ranks them 148th and 86th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 195th with 13.2 per game. The Rams allow 73.4 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 208th in Division 1. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the arc, ranking them 266th and 126th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 34.6 rebounds a game which ranks 164th and they give up 14.1 assists per contest, which puts them in 233rd place in college basketball. They force 14.0 turnovers per game which ranks them 194th in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Saint Joseph's is 208th in the country with 73.6 points per game this year. They are 322nd in D-1 in shooting at 41%, while their average scoring margin is -2.3. They shoot 32% from 3-point range, which is good for 303rd in college basketball. They are 78th in the nation in rebounding with 38.7 boards per game, and 247th in assists per contest with 12.9. The Hawks are 347th in turnovers per game with 9.7. The Hawks surrender 75.8 points per contest, which ranks them 260th in the country. Their defense allows a 43% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 160th and 277th in those defensive statistics. They rank 307th with 15.9 assists allowed per contest and 334th with 40.3 rebounds surrendered per game. The Hawks are 44th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 11.9 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Rams are 219th in the country in defensive rating with 102.4, and their offensive rating of 108.5 is ranked 115th. They are 143rd in college basketball in pace with 71.6 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 125th. As a unit they are 142nd in the nation in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shot attempts, ranking 168th in D-1. VCU is 226th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 249th in the country.

Advanced Statistics

Saint Joseph's is 351st in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 237th in the nation. The Hawks are 235th in the country in offensive rating with 101.5, and their defensive rating of 104.6 is ranked 256th. In terms of pace they are 127th in Division 1 with 71.8 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 47% is 313th. As a team they are 327th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 50% and they shoot 3-pointers on 41% of their shots, ranking 103rd in the nation.

Who will win tonight's VCU/Saint Joseph's college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Saint Joseph's -2

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