East Carolina at SMU College Basketball Picks & Predictions 1/2/2019

Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Moody Coliseum

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The East Carolina Pirates head to Moody Coliseum to take on the SMU Mustangs on Wednesday, January 2, 2019. The opening line for this game has SMU as 15 point favorites.

East Carolina heads into this matchup with a mark of 7-5. They currently have a point differential of 4.1 as they are averaging 71.1 points per contest while giving up 67.0 per game. SMU has an overall record of 8-4. They are averaging 76.1 points per game and surrendering 67.6, good for a point differential of 8.5.

Valuable East Carolina Pirates Betting Trends

The East Carolina Pirates are 7-4-1 against the spread this season

The East Carolina Pirates are 4-8-0 against the over/under this year

Important SMU Mustangs Betting Trends

The SMU Mustangs are 5-7-0 against the spread this season

The SMU Mustangs are 8-3-1 against the over/under this year

Key East Carolina Pirates Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key SMU Mustangs Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Jayden Gardner comes into this game averaging 19.0 points per contest while playing 29.6 minutes per night this year. He grabs 8.8 rebounds per contest and distributes 1.2 assists per game. His FG percentage is 46% while his free throw percentage is 77%. Seth LeDay averages 13.1 points per contest in 25.6 minutes per game. He averages 2.0 assists per game and 7.2 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 57% for the season while his free throw percentage is 69%.

Player Spotlight

Jahmal McMurray scores 18.2 points per contest while playing 32.5 minutes per game. He hauls in 2.4 rebounds per contest and has 2.8 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is at 78%. Ethan Chargois averages 13.4 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 25.2 minutes per game. He also brings in 6.7 rebounds per game and has 1.7 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is 67%.

Useful Team Statistics

East Carolina averages 71.1 points per contest, which is 259th in D-1. Their average scoring margin is 4.1 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a unit, which has them ranked 223rd. From 3-point territory they shoot 28%, which is good for 338th in the nation. They average 39.4 boards per contest and 13.4 assists per game, which ranks them 57th and 205th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 27th with 16.3 per game. The Pirates allow 67.0 points per contest, which is 80th in the NCAA. They also surrender a 40% shooting percentage and a 26% average from 3-point range, ranking them 66th and 8th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 33.6 rebounds a game which ranks 107th, and they allow 10.0 assists per game which puts them in 23rd place in the country. They force 15.0 turnovers per game which ranks them 260th in Division 1.

Useful Team Statistics

SMU is 136th in the nation with 76.1 points per contest this season. They are 109th in the country in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 8.5. They shoot 36% from beyond the arc, which is good for 100th in the NCAA. They are 214th in D-1 in rebounding with 35.6 boards per contest and 117th in assists per game with 14.8. The Mustangs are 326th in turnovers per contest with 11.1. The Mustangs give up 67.6 points per game, which ranks them 91st in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 44% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 226th and 262nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 282nd with 14.8 dimes allowed per game and 19th with 30.3 boards surrendered per contest. The Mustangs are 187th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 14.1 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Pirates are 290th in the nation in offensive rating with 97.5. In terms of pace they are 116th in the country with 72.2 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 48% is 289th. As a team they are 275th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 52% and they shoot 3-pointers on 30% of their shots, ranking 339th in Division 1. East Carolina is 33rd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 19.2 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

SMU is 316th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.1 times per 100 possessions. The Mustangs have an offensive rating of 114.6, which is ranked 29th. They are 333rd in D-1 in pace with 66.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 99th. As a unit they are 123rd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shot attempts, ranking 132nd in the country.

Who will win tonight's East Carolina/SMU college basketball game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take East Carolina +15

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