Houston at East Carolina Expert NCAA Basketball Picks 2/27/2019

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Houston Cougars head to Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum to take on the East Carolina Pirates on Wednesday, February 27, 2019. The opening line for this game has Houston as 17.5 point favorites.

Houston comes into this game with an overall record of 26-1. They currently have a point differential of 14.9 as they are averaging 75.2 points per game while giving up 60.3 per contest. East Carolina has an overall mark of 10-16. They are averaging 67.7 points per contest and giving up 72.4, which is a point differential of -4.7.

Valuable Houston Cougars Betting Trends

The Houston Cougars are 17-8-1 against the spread this season

The Houston Cougars are 11-15-0 against the over/under this year

Important East Carolina Pirates Betting Trends

The East Carolina Pirates are 12-12-1 against the spread this season

The East Carolina Pirates are 10-15-0 against the over/under this year

Key Houston Cougars Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key East Carolina Pirates Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Corey Davis Jr. comes into this game averaging 15.7 points per contest while playing 32.2 minutes per night this year. He grabs 3.3 rebounds per contest and distributes 2.9 assists per game. His FG percentage is 50% while his free throw percentage is 88%. Armoni Brooks averages 13.8 points per contest in 30.9 minutes per game. He averages 0.9 assists per game and 6.4 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 40% for the season while his free throw percentage is 65%.

Player Spotlight

Jayden Gardner scores 17.3 points per contest while playing 30.3 minutes per game. He hauls in 8.7 rebounds per contest and has 1.3 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 50% and his free throw percentage is at 75%. Seth LeDay averages 10.8 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 24.8 minutes per game. He also brings in 6.2 rebounds per game and has 1.6 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 52% and his free throw percentage is 67%.

Useful Team Statistics

Houston averages 75.2 points per contest, which is 111th in D-1. Their average scoring margin is 14.9 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a unit, which has them ranked 200th. From 3-point territory they shoot 35%, which is good for 128th in the nation. They average 41.6 boards per contest and 15.0 assists per game, which ranks them 5th and 66th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 294th with 11.7 per game. The Cougars allow 60.3 points per contest, which is 5th in the NCAA. They also surrender a 36% shooting percentage and a 27% average from 3-point range, ranking them 1st and 3rd in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 33.8 rebounds a game which ranks 120th, and they allow 10.4 assists per game which puts them in 17th place in the country. They force 12.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 95th in Division 1.

Useful Team Statistics

East Carolina is 296th in the nation with 67.7 points per contest this season. They are 306th in the country in shooting at 42%, while their average scoring margin is -4.7. They shoot 27% from beyond the arc, which is good for 349th in the NCAA. They are 186th in D-1 in rebounding with 35.4 boards per contest and 268th in assists per game with 12.3. The Pirates are 108th in turnovers per contest with 13.8. The Pirates give up 72.4 points per game, which ranks them 210th in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 44% shooting percentage and a 32% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 176th and 74th in those defensive statistics. They rank 152nd with 12.7 dimes allowed per game and 286th with 37.0 boards surrendered per contest. The Pirates are 259th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 14.3 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Cougars have an offensive rating of 111.2, which is ranked 41st. They are 274th in college basketball in pace with 67.6 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 135th. As a unit they are 133rd in the nation in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 44% of their shot attempts, ranking 59th in D-1. Houston is 298th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.6 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

East Carolina is 133rd in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.8 times per 100 possessions. The Pirates have an offensive rating of 94.8, which is ranked 326th. They are 131st in D-1 in pace with 70.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 46% is 338th. As a unit they are 335th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 50% and they shoot 3-pointers on 31% of their shot attempts, ranking 332nd in the country.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Houston -17.5

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