Creighton at St. John's Expert NCAA Basketball Picks 1/16/2019

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Madison Square Garden

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Creighton Bluejays travel to Madison Square Garden to play the St. John's Red Storm on Wednesday, January 16, 2019. The opening line for this matchup has St. John's as 3 point favorites.

Creighton comes into this game with an overall record of 10-7. They currently have a point differential of 7.2 as they are averaging 84.5 points per game while giving up 77.4 per contest. St. John's has an overall record of 14-3. They are averaging 83.1 points per game and surrendering 72.5, good for a point differential of 10.6.

Valuable Creighton Bluejays Betting Trends

The Creighton Bluejays are 7-9-0 against the spread

The Creighton Bluejays are 9-7-0 against the over/under

Important St. John's Red Storm Betting Trends

The St. John's Red Storm are 7-9-1 against the spread

The St. John's Red Storm are 10-6-1 against the over/under

Key Creighton Bluejays Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key St. John's Red Storm Injuries

01/15/19 G Shamorie Ponds Back missed last game, is questionable Wednesday vs Creighton
01/03/19 G Mikey Dixon Transferred has left team

Player Spotlight

Mitchell Ballock averages 11.3 points per game in 31.2 minutes per contest. He averages 3.6 assists per contest and 3.9 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 47% for the year while his free throw percentage is 71%. Ty-Shon Alexander comes into this contest averaging 17.4 points per game while playing 32.8 minutes per night. He pulls down 3.2 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.9 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 50% while his free throw percentage is at 80%.

Player Spotlight

Mustapha Heron averages 14.9 points per game and he sees the court an average of 31.8 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.9 rebounds per contest and 1.8 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 76%. Shamorie Ponds averages 20.6 points per game while playing 34.2 minutes per contest. He grabs 4.4 rebounds per game and has 6.0 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 50% and his free throw percentage is at 81%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Bluejays allow 77.4 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 292nd in Division 1. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 311th and 311th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 32.8 rebounds a game which ranks 73rd, and they give up 12.9 assists per contest which puts them in 168th place in the NCAA. They force 13.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 148th in the nation. Creighton averages 84.5 points per contest this season, which ranks them 18th in the country. Their average scoring margin is 7.2 and their shooting percentage is 51% as a team, which has them ranked 3rd. Behind the arc they shoot 44% which is good for 2nd in D-1. They average 34.2 rebounds per game and 16.5 assists per contest, which ranks them 273rd and 30th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 157th with 13.5 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Red Storm surrender 72.5 points per contest, which ranks them 206th in the NCAA. Their defense allows a 42% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 95th and 179th in those defensive statistics. They rank 131st with 12.5 assists allowed per contest, and 290th with 37.6 rebounds surrendered per game. The Red Storm are 292nd in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 15.8 per game. St. John's is 26th in the country with 83.1 points per game this year. They are 33rd in the D-1 in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 10.6. They shoot 39% from 3-point range, which is good for 16th in the nation. They are 276th in the country in rebounding with 34.2 boards per game and 42nd in assists per contest with 16.0. The Red Storm are 333rd in turnovers per game with 10.8.

Advanced Statistics

The Bluejays have an offensive rating of 116.5, which is ranked 11th. They are 94th in college basketball in pace with 72.1 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 61% is 1st. As a unit they are 2nd in the nation in true shooting percentage with 63% and they shoot 3-pointers on 47% of their shot attempts, ranking 14th in D-1. Creighton is 140th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.7 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

St. John's is 339th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.2 times per 100 possessions. The Red Storm have an offensive rating of 111.4, which is ranked 50th. They are 57th in D-1 in pace with 73.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 57% is 21st. As a unit they are 26th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 41% of their shot attempts, ranking 114th in the country.

Who will win tonight's Creighton/St. John's college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take St. John's -3

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