Ball State at Eastern Michigan Expert NCAA Basketball Picks 3/5/2019

Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Convocation Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Ball State Cardinals head to Convocation Center to take on the Eastern Michigan Eagles on Tuesday, March 5, 2019. The opening line for this game has Eastern Michigan as 1 point favorites.

Ball State heads into this matchup with a mark of 15-14. They currently have a point differential of 4.3 as they are averaging 76.3 points per contest while giving up 72.0 per game. Eastern Michigan has an overall mark of 14-15. They are averaging 70.1 points per contest and giving up 69.9, which is a point differential of 0.2.

Valuable Ball State Cardinals Betting Trends

The Ball State Cardinals are 12-16-0 against the spread this season

The Ball State Cardinals are 15-13-0 against the over/under this year

Important Eastern Michigan Eagles Betting Trends

The Eastern Michigan Eagles are 10-15-0 against the spread this season

The Eastern Michigan Eagles are 14-11-0 against the over/under this year

Key Ball State Cardinals Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Eastern Michigan Eagles Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Tayler Persons comes into this game averaging 16.8 points per contest while playing 31.7 minutes per night this year. He grabs 3.9 rebounds per contest and distributes 4.3 assists per game. His FG percentage is 38% while his free throw percentage is 80%. K.J. Walton averages 13.6 points per contest in 27.0 minutes per game. He averages 0.9 assists per game and 4.2 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 53% for the season while his free throw percentage is 71%.

Player Spotlight

Paul Jackson scores 14.1 points per contest while playing 34.6 minutes per game. He hauls in 2.0 rebounds per contest and has 4.8 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 38% and his free throw percentage is at 71%. Elijah Minnie averages 13.6 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 31.6 minutes per game. He also brings in 4.6 rebounds per game and has 1.1 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is 77%.

Useful Team Statistics

Ball State averages 76.3 points per contest, which is 82nd in D-1. Their average scoring margin is 4.3 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a unit, which has them ranked 45th. From 3-point territory they shoot 34%, which is good for 230th in the nation. They average 37.5 boards per contest and 12.8 assists per game, which ranks them 71st and 232nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 59th with 14.4 per game. The Cardinals allow 72.0 points per contest, which is 197th in the NCAA. They also surrender a 41% shooting percentage and a 32% average from 3-point range, ranking them 56th and 60th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 35.7 rebounds a game which ranks 227th, and they allow 12.0 assists per game which puts them in 89th place in the country. They force 13.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 193rd in Division 1.

Useful Team Statistics

Eastern Michigan is 249th in the nation with 70.1 points per contest this season. They are 133rd in the country in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 0.2. They shoot 30% from beyond the arc, which is good for 343rd in the NCAA. They are 112th in D-1 in rebounding with 36.6 boards per contest and 285th in assists per game with 11.9. The Eagles are 80th in turnovers per contest with 14.2. The Eagles give up 69.9 points per game, which ranks them 143rd in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 43% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 134th and 165th in those defensive statistics. They rank 343rd with 16.9 dimes allowed per game and 158th with 34.4 boards surrendered per contest. The Eagles are 240th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 13.9 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Cardinals are 175th in the nation in offensive rating with 103.8. In terms of pace they are 56th in the country with 72.2 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 100th. As a team they are 91st in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shots, ranking 319th in Division 1. Ball State is 74th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17.5 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Eastern Michigan is 65th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17.6 times per 100 possessions. The Eagles have an offensive rating of 103.1, which is ranked 191st. They are 290th in D-1 in pace with 67.1 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 207th. As a unit they are 256th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 264th in the country.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Ball State +1

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