Xavier at Providence College Basketball Picks & Predictions 1/6/2018

Saturday, January 6, 2018

Dunkin Donuts Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Xavier Musketeers travel to Dunkin Donuts Center to play the Providence Friars on Saturday, January 6, 2018. The opening line for this game has Xavier as 1.5 point favorites.

Xavier comes into this game with an overall record of 15-1. They currently have a point differential of 14.9 as they are averaging 86.5 points per game while giving up 71.6 per contest. Providence has an overall record of 10-6. They are averaging 76.9 points per game and surrendering 72.7, good for a point differential of 4.3.

Valuable Xavier Musketeers Betting Trends

The Xavier Musketeers are 12-4 against the spread this season

The Xavier Musketeers are 11-5 against the over/under this year

Important Providence Friars Betting Trends

The Providence Friars are 3-11 against the spread this season

The Providence Friars are 10-4 against the over/under this year

Key Xavier Musketeers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Providence Friars Injuries

11/15/17 F Emmitt Holt Abdominal is out for season
01/05/18 F Rodney Bullock Illness missed last game, is probable Saturday vs Xavier

Player Spotlight

J.P. Macura averages 13.3 points per game in 28.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3.1 assists per contest and 4.1 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 49% for the year while his free throw percentage is 86%. Trevon Bluiett averages 19.8 points per game while playing 33 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 5.7 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.8 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is at 89%.

Player Spotlight

Alpha Diallo averages 11.2 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 26.8 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.9 rebounds per contest and 1.9 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 52% and his free throw percentage is 79%. Rodney Bullock averages 16.9 points per game while playing 32.6 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 6.7 rebounds per game and has 1.3 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is at 73%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Musketeers allow 71.6 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 167th in the nation. They also allow a 40% shooting percentage and a 32% average from behind the arc, ranking them 42nd and 77th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 31.9 rebounds a game which ranks 55th, and they give up 12.8 assists per contest, which puts them in 142nd place in the country. They force 11.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 28th in college basketball. Xavier averages 86.5 points per contest this season, which ranks them 18th in Division 1. Their average scoring margin is 14.9 and their shooting percentage is 51% as a team, which has them ranked 14th. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 88th in D-1. They average 39.8 rebounds per game and 17.8 assists per game, which ranks them 45th and 22nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 254th with 12.5 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Friars surrender 72.7 points per contest, which ranks them 196th in the country. Their defense allows a 44% shooting percentage and a 32% average from 3-point range, ranking them 195th and 62nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 108th with 12.2 assists allowed per contest, and 182nd with 35.2 rebounds surrendered per game. The Friars are 230th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 14.4 per game this season. Providence is 125th in Division 1 with 76.9 points per game this year. They are 98th in the country in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 4.3. They shoot 38% from 3-point range, which is good for 72nd in the nation. They are 176th in college basketball in rebounding with 36.3 boards per game and 124th in assists per contest with 14.9. The Friars are 160th in turnovers per game with 13.6.

Advanced Statistics

The Musketeers are 122nd in the country in defensive rating with 98, and their offensive rating of 118.4 is ranked 14th. They are 71st in college basketball in pace with 73.1 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 58% is 20th. As a unit they are 9th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 62% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 232nd in D-1. Xavier is 266th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.7 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 46%, which is 48th in the country.

Advanced Statistics

Providence is 161st in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17.5 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 173rd in Division 1. The Friars are 197th in the nation in defensive rating with 101.4, and their offensive rating of 107.3 is ranked 133rd. They are 192nd in D-1 in pace with 70.6 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 122nd. As a unit they are 127th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shot attempts, ranking 293rd in the country.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Providence +1.5

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