Xavier at DePaul College Basketball Picks & Predictions 3/3/2018

Saturday, March 3, 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, March 3, 2018. The opening line for this game has Xavier as 7 point favorites.

Xavier comes into this game with an overall record of 26-4. They currently have a point differential of 9.8 as they are averaging 85.2 points per game while giving up 75.4 per contest. DePaul has an overall record of 11-18. They are averaging 72.4 points per game and surrendering 74.2, good for a point differential of -1.8.

Valuable Xavier Musketeers Betting Trends

The Xavier Musketeers are 20-10 against the spread this season

The Xavier Musketeers are 18-12 against the over/under this year

Important DePaul Blue Demons Betting Trends

The DePaul Blue Demons are 15-14 against the spread this season

The DePaul Blue Demons are 15-14 against the over/under this year

Key Xavier Musketeers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key DePaul Blue Demons Injuries

12/09/17 G Devin Gage Achilles is out for season

Player Spotlight

J.P. Macura averages 12.4 points per game in 29.1 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.9 assists per contest and 4.4 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 47% for the year while his free throw percentage is 83%. Trevon Bluiett averages 19.3 points per game while playing 34.1 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 5.6 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.6 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 41% while his free throw percentage is at 85%.

Player Spotlight

Marin Maric averages 13.6 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 27.1 minutes per contest. He also averages 6.6 rebounds per contest and 1.2 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 55% and his free throw percentage is 85%. Max Strus averages 17 points per game while playing 35.7 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 5.8 rebounds per game and has 2.8 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is at 80%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Musketeers allow 75.4 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 255th in the nation. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 152nd and 165th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 31.2 rebounds a game which ranks 29th, and they give up 14.7 assists per contest, which puts them in 279th place in the country. They force 11.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 51st in college basketball. Xavier averages 85.2 points per contest this season, which ranks them 8th in Division 1. Their average scoring margin is 9.8 and their shooting percentage is 50% as a team, which has them ranked 13th. Behind the arc they shoot 38% which is good for 71st in D-1. They average 38.0 rebounds per game and 16.8 assists per game, which ranks them 65th and 20th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 233rd with 12.4 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Blue Demons surrender 74.2 points per contest, which ranks them 227th in the country. Their defense allows a 44% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 183rd and 305th in those defensive statistics. They rank 295th with 15.0 assists allowed per contest, and 188th with 35.0 rebounds surrendered per game. The Blue Demons are 269th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 14.3 per game this season. DePaul is 221st in Division 1 with 72.4 points per game this year. They are 270th in the country in shooting at 43%, while their average scoring margin is -1.8. They shoot 31% from 3-point range, which is good for 331st in the nation. They are 69th in college basketball in rebounding with 37.8 boards per game and 90th in assists per contest with 15.0. The Blue Demons are 81st in turnovers per game with 14.0.

Advanced Statistics

The Musketeers are 197th in the country in defensive rating with 103.2, and their offensive rating of 116.7 is ranked 12th. They are 55th in college basketball in pace with 72.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 57% is 20th. As a unit they are 11th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 61% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 217th in D-1. Xavier is 264th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 186th in the country.

Advanced Statistics

DePaul is 136th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17.6 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 260th in Division 1. The Blue Demons are 202nd in the nation in defensive rating with 103.4, and their offensive rating of 100.9 is ranked 261st. They are 87th in D-1 in pace with 71.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 48% is 310th. As a unit they are 315th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 51% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shot attempts, ranking 295th in the country.

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

Tony's Pick: Take DePaul +7

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