Xavier at DePaul College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/29/2018

Saturday, December 29, 2018

Wintrust Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Xavier Musketeers travel to Wintrust Arena to play the DePaul Blue Demons on Saturday, December 29, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has DePaul as 1.5 point favorites.

Xavier comes into this game with an overall record of 8-5. They currently have a point differential of 5.0 as they are averaging 75.5 points per game while giving up 70.5 per contest. DePaul has an overall record of 8-3. They are averaging 78.7 points per game and surrendering 69.1, good for a point differential of 9.6.

Valuable Xavier Musketeers Betting Trends

The Xavier Musketeers are 4-8-1 against the spread

The Xavier Musketeers are 5-8-0 against the over/under

Important DePaul Blue Demons Betting Trends

The DePaul Blue Demons are 5-6-0 against the spread

The DePaul Blue Demons are 7-4-0 against the over/under

Key Xavier Musketeers Injuries

12/27/18 F Naji Marshall Back is questionable Saturday vs Depaul
12/27/18 F Tyrique Jones Head is questionable Saturday vs Depaul

Key DePaul Blue Demons Injuries

12/19/18 G Jalen Coleman-Lands Hand is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Naji Marshall averages 12.5 points per game in 34.0 minutes per contest. He averages 3.4 assists per contest and 7.6 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 43% for the year while his free throw percentage is 67%. Quentin Goodin comes into this contest averaging 14.3 points per game while playing 34.2 minutes per night. He pulls down 2.9 rebounds per game and dishes out 5.5 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 44% while his free throw percentage is at 70%.

Player Spotlight

Eli Cain averages 14.2 points per game and he sees the court an average of 34.3 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.1 rebounds per contest and 4.7 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is 72%. Max Strus averages 19.7 points per game while playing 35.3 minutes per contest. He grabs 8.1 rebounds per game and has 2.7 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is at 73%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Musketeers allow 70.5 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 164th in Division 1. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 144th and 281st in those defensive categories. Opponents average 32.7 rebounds a game which ranks 82nd, and they give up 14.5 assists per contest which puts them in 267th place in the NCAA. They force 12.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 93rd in the nation. Xavier averages 75.5 points per contest this season, which ranks them 148th in the country. Their average scoring margin is 5.0 and their shooting percentage is 49% as a team, which has them ranked 35th. Behind the arc they shoot 34% which is good for 204th in D-1. They average 36.8 rebounds per game and 14.7 assists per contest, which ranks them 154th and 121st in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 127th with 14.2 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Blue Demons surrender 69.1 points per contest, which ranks them 124th in the NCAA. Their defense allows a 41% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 97th and 285th in those defensive statistics. They rank 141st with 12.5 assists allowed per contest, and 81st with 32.6 rebounds surrendered per game. The Blue Demons are 240th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 14.9 per game. DePaul is 83rd in the country with 78.7 points per game this year. They are 84th in the D-1 in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 9.6. They shoot 31% from 3-point range, which is good for 285th in the nation. They are 31st in the country in rebounding with 40.5 boards per game and 66th in assists per contest with 15.7. The Blue Demons are 139th in turnovers per game with 14.0.

Advanced Statistics

The Musketeers are 98th in the nation in offensive rating with 108.9. In terms of pace they are 274th in the country with 68.6 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 55% is 56th. As a team they are 72nd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shots, ranking 170th in Division 1. Xavier is 93rd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17.7 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

DePaul is 165th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.5 times per 100 possessions. The Blue Demons have an offensive rating of 108.8, which is ranked 102nd. They are 146th in D-1 in pace with 71.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 130th. As a unit they are 140th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shot attempts, ranking 190th in the country.

Who will win tonight's Xavier/DePaul college basketball game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take DePaul -1.5

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