Fairleigh Dickinson at Gonzaga Expert NCAA Basketball Picks Against the Spread 3/21/2019

Thursday, March 21, 2019

Vivint Smart Home Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Fairleigh Dickinson Knights travel to Vivint Smart Home Arena to play the Gonzaga Bulldogs on Thursday in the 1st round of the NCAA Tournament. The Knights beat Prairie View A&M 82-76 in the play-in game on Tuesday. The opening line for this matchup has Gonzaga as 26.5 point favorites.

Fairleigh Dickinson heads into this matchup with a mark of 17-13. They currently have a point differential of 4.2 as they are averaging 75.6 points per contest while giving up 71.4 per game. Gonzaga has an overall record of 29-2. They are averaging 88.8 points per game and surrendering 65.1, good for a point differential of 23.8.

Valuable Fairleigh Dickinson Knights Betting Trends

The Fairleigh Dickinson Knights are 19-13-0 against the spread

The Fairleigh Dickinson Knights are 13-14-1 against the over/under

Important Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Trends

The Gonzaga Bulldogs are 21-12-0 against the spread

The Gonzaga Bulldogs are 15-16-0 against the over/under

Key Fairleigh Dickinson Knights Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Gonzaga Bulldogs Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Darnell Edge comes into this contest averaging 16.4 points per game while playing 37.0 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 3.5 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 61% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 89%. Jahlil Jenkins averages 13.5 points per game in 36.8 minutes per contest this season. He averages 4.5 assists per contest and 3.1 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 43% for the year while his free throw percentage is 87%.

Player Spotlight

Rui Hachimura averages 20.1 points per game while playing 30.4 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 6.6 rebounds per game and has 1.6 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 61% and his free throw percentage is at 74%. Brandon Clarke averages 16.5 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 27.6 minutes per contest. He also averages 8.4 rebounds per contest and 1.8 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 69% and his free throw percentage is 69%.

Useful Team Statistics

Fairleigh Dickinson averages 75.6 points per contest this season, which ranks them 98th in the NCAA. Their average scoring margin is 4.2 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 26th. Behind the arc they shoot 40% which is good for 5th in the nation. They average 33.1 rebounds per game and 14.1 assists per game, which ranks them 292nd and 119th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 116th with 13.5 per game. The Knights allow 71.4 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 180th in the country. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 206th and 215th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 33.5 rebounds a game which ranks 102nd and they give up 13.3 assists per contest, which puts them in 199th place in Division 1. They force 14.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 289th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Gonzaga is 1st in the country with 88.8 points per game this year. They are 1st in Division 1 in shooting at 53%, while their average scoring margin is 23.8. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 78th in the nation. They are 32nd in the NCAA in rebounding with 38.6 boards per game, and 6th in assists per contest with 18.0. The Bulldogs are 336th in turnovers per game with 10.4. The Bulldogs surrender 65.1 points per contest, which ranks them 33rd in D-1. Their defense allows a 39% shooting percentage and a 31% average from 3-point range, ranking them 8th and 27th in those defensive statistics. They rank 6th with 9.8 assists allowed per contest and 57th with 32.5 rebounds surrendered per game. The Bulldogs are 220th in country in forcing turnovers with 13.5 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Knights have an offensive rating of 108.5, which is ranked 70th. They are 204th in college basketball in pace with 68.7 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 55% is 31st. As a unit they are 28th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 279th in D-1. Fairleigh Dickinson is 91st in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17.2 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Gonzaga is 342nd in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.8 times per 100 possessions. The Bulldogs are 1st in the country in offensive rating with 124.1. In terms of pace they are 73rd in Division 1 with 71.6 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 60% is 1st. As a team they are 1st in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 63% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 261st in the nation.

Who will win tonight's Fairleigh Dickinson/Gonzaga college basketball game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Gonzaga -26.5

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Josh Schonwald