Colorado at USC Expert NCAA Basketball Picks Against the Spread 2/9/2019

Saturday, February 9, 2019

Galen Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Colorado Buffaloes travel to Galen Center to play the USC Trojans on Saturday, February 9, 2019. The opening line for this matchup has USC as 5.5 point favorites.

Colorado comes into this game with an overall record of 13-9. They currently have a point differential of 6.7 as they are averaging 75.7 points per game while giving up 69.0 per contest. USC has an overall mark of 13-10. They are averaging 77.3 points per contest and giving up 73.2, which is a point differential of 4.1.

Valuable Colorado Buffaloes Betting Trends

The Colorado Buffaloes are 10-12-0 against the spread

The Colorado Buffaloes are 8-14-0 against the over/under

Important USC Trojans Betting Trends

The USC Trojans are 11-12-0 against the spread

The USC Trojans are 10-13-0 against the over/under

Key Colorado Buffaloes Injuries

10/18/18 F Dallas Walton ACL is out for season
01/26/19 G Namon Wright Foot is out for season
01/16/19 G Deleon Brown Academics is out for season

Key USC Trojans Injuries

12/18/18 G Charles O'Bannon, Jr. Finger is out for season
01/06/19 G Jordan Usher Transferred has left team

Player Spotlight

McKinley Wright IV comes into this contest averaging 12.7 points per game while playing 30.2 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 4.7 rebounds per game and dishes out 5.0 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 75%. Tyler Bey averages 12.4 points per game in 24.9 minutes per contest this season. He averages 0.6 assists per contest and 9.0 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 54% for the year while his free throw percentage is 78%.

Player Spotlight

Bennie Boatwright averages 17.3 points per game while playing 33.0 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 6.7 rebounds per game and has 2.3 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 73%. Nick Rakocevic averages 16.0 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 30.6 minutes per contest. He also averages 9.9 rebounds per contest and 1.3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 55% and his free throw percentage is 72%.

Useful Team Statistics

Colorado averages 75.7 points per contest this season, which ranks them 113th in the NCAA. Their average scoring margin is 6.7 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 108th. Behind the arc they shoot 33% which is good for 237th in the nation. They average 36.8 rebounds per game and 13.1 assists per game, which ranks them 112th and 215th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 135th with 13.6 per game. The Buffaloes allow 69.0 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 118th in the country. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 31% average from behind the arc, ranking them 180th and 38th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 31.7 rebounds a game which ranks 34th and they give up 10.6 assists per contest, which puts them in 26th place in Division 1. They force 13.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 157th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

USC is 76th in the country with 77.3 points per game this year. They are 107th in Division 1 in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 4.1. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 57th in the nation. They are 115th in the NCAA in rebounding with 36.8 boards per game, and 25th in assists per contest with 16.3. The Trojans are 262nd in turnovers per game with 12.3. The Trojans surrender 73.2 points per contest, which ranks them 222nd in D-1. Their defense allows a 42% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 76th and 172nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 266th with 14.3 assists allowed per contest and 315th with 38.2 rebounds surrendered per game. The Trojans are 206th in country in forcing turnovers with 13.9 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Buffaloes are 127th in the nation in offensive rating with 106.1. In terms of pace they are 120th in the country with 70.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 157th. As a team they are 122nd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 248th in Division 1. Colorado is 154th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.6 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

USC is 294th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.8 times per 100 possessions. The Trojans are 150th in the country in offensive rating with 105. In terms of pace they are 62nd in Division 1 with 72.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 141st. As a team they are 178th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shots, ranking 296th in the nation.

Who will win tonight's Colorado/USC college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take USC -5.5

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