Western Kentucky at Utah College Basketball Picks & Predictions 3/27/2018

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Madison Square Garden

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers travel to Madison Square Garden to play the Utah Utes on Tuesday, March 27, 2018. The opening line for this game has Western Kentucky as 1 point favorites.

Western Kentucky heads into this matchup with a mark of 27-10. They currently have a point differential of 8.4 as they are averaging 78.8 points per contest while giving up 70.4 per game. Utah has an overall record of 22-11. They are averaging 73.8 points per game and surrendering 68.2, good for a point differential of 5.6.

Valuable Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Betting Trends

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers are 23-12 against the spread this season

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers are 15-13 against the over/under this year

Important Utah Utes Betting Trends

The Utah Utes are 17-11 against the spread this season

The Utah Utes are 10-17 against the over/under this year

Key Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Utah Utes Injuries

03/21/18 F David Collette Back injured last game, is "?" Tuesday vs Western Kentucky

Player Spotlight

Justin Johnson averages 15.5 points per game while playing 34.5 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 9.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 46% while his free throw percentage is at 57%. Darius Thompson averages 13.9 points per game in 35.6 minutes per contest this season. He averages 4.7 assists per contest and 4.3 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 47% for the year while his free throw percentage is 73%.

Player Spotlight

Justin Bibbins averages 14.6 points per game while playing 34.7 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 3 rebounds per game and has 4.7 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is at 86%. David Collette averages 12.5 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 21.6 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.5 rebounds per contest and 1.2 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 64% and his free throw percentage is 72%.

Useful Team Statistics

Western Kentucky averages 78.8 points per contest this season, which ranks them 60th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 8.4 and their shooting percentage is 50% as a team, which has them ranked 8th. Behind the arc they shoot 35%, which is good for 162nd in the country. They average 35.8 rebounds per game and 13.6 assists per game, which ranks them 149th and 174th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 278th with 11.8 per game. The Hilltoppers allow 70.4 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 125th in Division 1. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 106th and 224th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 33.4 rebounds a game which ranks 96th and they give up 13.9 assists per contest, which puts them in 223rd place in college basketball. They force 12.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 164th in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Utah is 172nd in the country with 73.8 points per game this year. They are 103rd 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 83rd in college basketball. They are 271st in the nation in rebounding with 33.6 boards per game, and 57th in assists per contest with 15.5. The Utes are 267th in turnovers per game with 11.9. The Utes surrender 68.2 points per contest, which ranks them 66th in the country. Their defense allows a 42% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 59th and 104th in those defensive statistics. They rank 34th with 11.2 assists allowed per contest and 173rd with 34.7 rebounds surrendered per game. The Utes are 98th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 12.1 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Hilltoppers are 107th in the country in defensive rating with 100.5, and their offensive rating of 112.4 is ranked 30th. They are 171st in college basketball in pace with 69.8 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 51st. As a unit they are 44th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 27% of their shot attempts, ranking 344th in D-1. Western Kentucky is 287th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 49%, which is 114th in the country.

Advanced Statistics

Utah is 201st in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.4 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 48%, which is 57th in Division 1. The Utes are 106th in the nation in defensive rating with 100.4, and their offensive rating of 108.8 is ranked 93rd. They are 283rd in D-1 in pace with 67.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 55% is 44th. As a unit they are 39th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 46% of their shot attempts, ranking 21st in the country.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Utah +1

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