Ball State at Buffalo Expert NCAA Basketball Picks 1/29/2019

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Alumni Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Ball State Cardinals travel to Alumni Arena to play the Buffalo Bulls on Tuesday, January 29, 2019. The opening line for this matchup has Buffalo as 11.5 point favorites.

Ball State comes into this game with an overall record of 11-9. They currently have a point differential of 7.3 as they are averaging 80.6 points per game while giving up 73.3 per contest. Buffalo has an overall record of 18-2. They are averaging 84.8 points per game and surrendering 70.5, good for a point differential of 14.3.

Valuable Ball State Cardinals Betting Trends

The Ball State Cardinals are 10-9-0 against the spread

The Ball State Cardinals are 13-6-0 against the over/under

Important Buffalo Bulls Betting Trends

The Buffalo Bulls are 12-6-1 against the spread

The Buffalo Bulls are 9-10-0 against the over/under

Key Ball State Cardinals Injuries

12/17/18 F Brachen Hazen Back is out indefinitely
01/05/19 G Ishmael El-Amin Wrist is out indefinitely

Key Buffalo Bulls Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Tahjai Teague averages 14.7 points per game in 28.3 minutes per contest. He averages 1.3 assists per contest and 7.8 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 60% for the year while his free throw percentage is 69%. Tayler Persons comes into this contest averaging 17.0 points per game while playing 31.5 minutes per night. He pulls down 4.1 rebounds per game and dishes out 4.5 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage is at 82%.

Player Spotlight

Jeremy Harris averages 14.7 points per game and he sees the court an average of 31.3 minutes per contest. He also averages 6.1 rebounds per contest and 2.7 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is 73%. C.J. Massinburg averages 18.2 points per game while playing 32.5 minutes per contest. He grabs 6.6 rebounds per game and has 3.1 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 77%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Cardinals allow 73.3 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 233rd in Division 1. They also allow a 42% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the arc, ranking them 88th and 121st in those defensive categories. Opponents average 34.1 rebounds a game which ranks 135th, and they give up 12.4 assists per contest which puts them in 118th place in the NCAA. They force 13.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 136th in the nation. Ball State averages 80.6 points per contest this season, which ranks them 37th in the country. Their average scoring margin is 7.3 and their shooting percentage is 50% as a team, which has them ranked 13th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 87th in D-1. They average 37.7 rebounds per game and 13.7 assists per contest, which ranks them 87th and 175th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 128th with 13.8 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Bulls surrender 70.5 points per contest, which ranks them 153rd in the NCAA. Their defense allows a 42% shooting percentage and a 32% average from 3-point range, ranking them 87th and 96th in those defensive statistics. They rank 16th with 10.2 assists allowed per contest, and 287th with 37.4 rebounds surrendered per game. The Bulls are 318th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 16.2 per game. Buffalo is 12th in the country with 84.8 points per game this year. They are 96th in the D-1 in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 14.3. They shoot 34% from 3-point range, which is good for 170th in the nation. They are 25th in the country in rebounding with 40.0 boards per game and 13th in assists per contest with 17.5. The Bulls are 298th in turnovers per game with 11.7.

Advanced Statistics

The Cardinals are 62nd in the nation in offensive rating with 110. In terms of pace they are 92nd in the country with 71.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 55% is 32nd. As a team they are 21st in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shots, ranking 316th in Division 1. Ball State is 147th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.7 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Buffalo is 339th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.4 times per 100 possessions. The Bulls have an offensive rating of 113.7, which is ranked 21st. They are 39th in D-1 in pace with 74.1 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 80th. As a unit they are 92nd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 43% of their shot attempts, ranking 73rd in the country.

Who will win tonight's Ball State/Buffalo college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Buffalo -11.5

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