Western Michigan at Northern Illinois College Basketball Picks & Predictions 2/17/2018

Saturday, February 17, 2018

NIU Convocation Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Western Michigan Broncos head to NIU Convocation Center to take on the Northern Illinois Huskies on Saturday, February 17, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Western Michigan as 2 point favorites.

Western Michigan heads into this matchup with a mark of 15-11. They currently have a point differential of 3.2 as they are averaging 75.3 points per contest while giving up 72.2 per game. Northern Illinois has an overall mark of 11-15. They are averaging 74.3 points per contest and giving up 75.3, which is a point differential of -1.0.

Valuable Western Michigan Broncos Betting Trends

The Western Michigan Broncos are 9-12 against the spread this season

The Western Michigan Broncos are 9-13 against the over/under this year

Important Northern Illinois Huskies Betting Trends

The Northern Illinois Huskies are 10-11 against the spread this season

The Northern Illinois Huskies are 13-8 against the over/under this year

Key Western Michigan Broncos Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Northern Illinois Huskies Injuries

11/14/17 F Jaylen Key Shoulder is out indefinitely
02/16/18 G Dante Thorpe Undisclosed is "?" Saturday vs Western Michigan

Player Spotlight

Thomas Wilder averages 18.8 points per contest while playing 31.8 minutes per night this year. He grabs 4.2 rebounds per contest and distributes 4.3 assists per game. His FG percentage is 48% while his free throw percentage is 82%. Josh Davis averages 11.1 points per contest in 27.5 minutes per game this year. He averages 1.3 assists per game and 7.1 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 49% for the season while his free throw percentage is 69%.

Player Spotlight

Eugene German scores 20.1 points per contest while playing 30.2 minutes per game this season. He hauls in 3.9 rebounds per contest and has 1.8 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is at 75%. Levi Bradley averages 14.5 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 29.6 minutes per game. He also brings in 5 rebounds per game and has 0.9 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 84%.

Useful Team Statistics

Western Michigan averages 75.3 points per contest this year, which is 134th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 3.2 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a unit, which has them ranked 218th. From 3-point territory they shoot 36%, which is good for 144th in Division 1. They average 35.8 boards per contest and 12.7 assists per game, which ranks them 160th and 250th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 336th with 10.7 per game. The Broncos allow 72.2 points per contest, which is 173rd in the country. They also surrender a 45% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 224th and 299th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 34.9 rebounds a game which ranks 184th, and they allow 13.0 assists per game which puts them in 146th place in college basketball. They force 14.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 244th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Northern Illinois is 175th in the country with 74.3 points per contest this season. They are 80th in the nation in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is -1.0. They shoot 33% from beyond the arc, which is good for 274th in Division 1. They are 246th in the country in rebounding with 34.1 boards per contest and 346th in assists per game with 10.0. The Huskies are 297th in turnovers per contest with 11.7. The Huskies give up 75.3 points per game, which ranks them 259th in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 282nd and 253rd in those defensive statistics. They rank 283rd with 14.8 dimes allowed per game and 195th with 35.0 boards surrendered per contest. The Huskies are 169th in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 13.2 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Broncos are 213th in the country in defensive rating with 103.5, and their offensive rating of 108 is ranked 110th. They are 193rd in college basketball in pace with 69.7 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 50% is 229th. As a unit they are 225th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 243rd in D-1. Western Michigan is 335th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17.8 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 280th in the country.

Advanced Statistics

Northern Illinois is 294th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.4 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 298th in Division 1. The Huskies are 289th in the nation in defensive rating with 107.5, and their offensive rating of 106 is ranked 142nd. They are 190th in D-1 in pace with 69.7 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 176th. As a unit they are 162nd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 29% of their shot attempts, ranking 332nd in the country.

Who will win tonight's Western Michigan/Northern Illinois college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Western Michigan -2

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