Wichita State at UCF College Basketball Picks & Predictions 3/1/2018

Thursday, March 1, 2018

CFE Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Wichita State Shockers travel to CFE Arena to play the UCF Knights on Thursday, March 1, 2018. The opening line for this game has Wichita State as 8.5 point favorites.

Wichita State comes into this game with an overall record of 23-5. They currently have a point differential of 13.0 as they are averaging 84.2 points per game while giving up 71.1 per contest. UCF has an overall mark of 17-11. They are averaging 62.6 points per contest and giving up 61.2, which is a point differential of 1.5.

Valuable Wichita State Shockers Betting Trends

The Wichita State Shockers are 12-14 against the spread this season

The Wichita State Shockers are 17-9 against the over/under this year

Important UCF Knights Betting Trends

The UCF Knights are 13-10 against the spread this season

The UCF Knights are 8-14 against the over/under this year

Key Wichita State Shockers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key UCF Knights Injuries

11/10/17 C Collin Smith Eligibility is out for season
11/05/17 F Aubrey Dawkins Shoulder is out for season
02/15/18 G Chance McSpadden Finger is out for season
01/20/18 C Tacko Fall Shoulder is out for season

Player Spotlight

Landry Shamet averages 14.6 points per game while playing 30.9 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 3 rebounds per game and dishes out 5.1 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 42% while his free throw percentage is at 84%. Shaquille Morris averages 14 points per game in 22.8 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.3 assists per contest and 5.3 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 57% for the year while his free throw percentage is 74%.

Player Spotlight

Ceasar DeJesus averages 8.7 points per game while playing 27.2 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 2.4 rebounds per game and has 1.9 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is at 77%. A.J. Davis averages 11.8 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 32.6 minutes per contest. He also averages 7.8 rebounds per contest and 2.1 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is 71%.

Useful Team Statistics

Wichita State averages 84.2 points per contest this season, which ranks them 16th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 13.0 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 30th. Behind the arc they shoot 39%, which is good for 28th in the country. They average 40.6 rebounds per game and 18.9 assists per game, which ranks them 9th and 3rd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 286th with 11.8 per game. The Shockers allow 71.1 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 145th in Division 1. They also allow a 42% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 61st and 230th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 30.4 rebounds a game which ranks 12th and they give up 10.9 assists per contest, which puts them in 21st place in college basketball. They force 12.0 turnovers per game which ranks them 82nd in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

UCF is 344th in the country with 62.6 points per game this year. They are 275th in D-1 in shooting at 43%, while their average scoring margin is 1.5. They shoot 32% from 3-point range, which is good for 321st in college basketball. They are 191st in the nation in rebounding with 35.2 boards per game, and 336th in assists per contest with 10.8. The Knights are 86th in turnovers per game with 13.9. The Knights surrender 61.2 points per contest, which ranks them 3rd in the country. Their defense allows a 39% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 8th and 90th in those defensive statistics. They rank 111th with 12.6 assists allowed per contest and 93rd with 33.3 rebounds surrendered per game. The Knights are 101st in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 12.3 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Shockers are 6th in the nation in offensive rating with 118.7, and their defensive rating of 100.3 is ranked 111th. In terms of pace they are 124th in the country with 70.6 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 56% is 28th. As a team they are 26th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shots, ranking 128th in Division 1. Wichita State is 312th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 49%, which is 96th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

UCF is 26th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 18.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.3 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 45%, which is 8th in the nation. The Knights are 327th in the country in offensive rating with 96.1, and their defensive rating of 93.8 is ranked 12th. In terms of pace they are 337th in Division 1 with 65.2 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 48% is 312th. As a team they are 311th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 51% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shots, ranking 294th in the nation.

Who will win tonight's Wichita State/UCF college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take UCF +8.5

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Tony Sink