Western Kentucky at Arkansas College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/8/2018

Saturday, December 8, 2018

Bud Walton Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers travel to Bud Walton Arena to play the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday, December 8, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Arkansas as 8.5 point favorites.

Western Kentucky comes into this game with an overall record of 4-4. They currently have a point differential of -0.3 as they are averaging 71.1 points per game while giving up 71.4 per contest. Arkansas has an overall record of 6-1. They are averaging 87.4 points per game and surrendering 70.6, good for a point differential of 16.9.

Valuable Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Betting Trends

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers are 3-5-0 against the spread

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers are 5-3-0 against the over/under

Important Arkansas Razorbacks Betting Trends

The Arkansas Razorbacks are 6-1-0 against the spread

The Arkansas Razorbacks are 3-4-0 against the over/under

Key Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Injuries

09/29/18 G Lamonte Bearden Suspension 6-game suspension

Key Arkansas Razorbacks Injuries

11/09/18 G Khalil Garland Medical is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Taveion Hollingsworth comes into this contest averaging 17.3 points per game while playing 36.9 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 4.3 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 68% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 77%. Jared Savage averages 14.1 points per game in 37.5 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.1 assists per contest and 3.3 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 34% for the year while his free throw percentage is 91%.

Player Spotlight

Daniel Gafford averages 18.7 points per game while playing 26.1 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 8.7 rebounds per game and has 0.7 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 68% and his free throw percentage is at 58%. Isaiah Joe averages 16.0 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 28.3 minutes per contest. He also averages 2.9 rebounds per contest and 2.7 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is 80%.

Useful Team Statistics

Western Kentucky averages 71.1 points per contest this season, which ranks them 253rd in the NCAA. Their average scoring margin is -0.3 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a team, which has them ranked 230th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 108th in the nation. They average 35.4 rebounds per game and 10.8 assists per game, which ranks them 230th and 315th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 136th with 14.0 per game. The Hilltoppers allow 71.4 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 181st in the country. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the arc, ranking them 199th and 196th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 35.0 rebounds a game which ranks 166th and they give up 13.4 assists per contest, which puts them in 204th place in Division 1. They force 13.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 153rd in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Arkansas is 15th in the country with 87.4 points per game this year. They are 56th in Division 1 in shooting at 49%, while their average scoring margin is 16.9. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 94th in the nation. They are 39th in the NCAA in rebounding with 40.9 boards per game, and 9th in assists per contest with 19.9. The Razorbacks are 164th in turnovers per game with 13.7. The Razorbacks surrender 70.6 points per contest, which ranks them 161st in D-1. Their defense allows a 36% shooting percentage and a 29% average from 3-point range, ranking them 7th and 54th in those defensive statistics. They rank 127th with 12.1 assists allowed per contest and 309th with 39.3 rebounds surrendered per game. The Razorbacks are 327th in country in forcing turnovers with 17.4 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Hilltoppers have an offensive rating of 101.8, which is ranked 229th. They are 229th in college basketball in pace with 69.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 49% is 268th. As a unit they are 233rd in the nation in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 26% of their shot attempts, ranking 345th in D-1. Western Kentucky is 122nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17.3 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Arkansas is 242nd in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.3 times per 100 possessions. The Razorbacks have an offensive rating of 110.9, which is ranked 81st. They are 19th in D-1 in pace with 77.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 56% is 46th. As a unit they are 80th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shot attempts, ranking 178th in the country.

Who will win tonight's Western Kentucky/Arkansas college basketball game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Arkansas -8.5

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