Houston at SMU Expert NCAA Basketball Picks 1/16/2019

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Moody Coliseum

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Houston Cougars head to Moody Coliseum to take on the SMU Mustangs on Wednesday, January 16, 2019. The opening line for this game has Houston as 1 point favorites.

Houston heads into this matchup with a mark of 16-1. They currently have a point differential of 14.6 as they are averaging 75.3 points per contest while giving up 60.6 per game. SMU has an overall mark of 11-5. They are averaging 75.6 points per contest and giving up 66.4, which is a point differential of 9.2.

Valuable Houston Cougars Betting Trends

The Houston Cougars are 10-6-1 against the spread this season

The Houston Cougars are 8-9-0 against the over/under this year

Important SMU Mustangs Betting Trends

The SMU Mustangs are 7-9-0 against the spread this season

The SMU Mustangs are 8-6-2 against the over/under this year

Key Houston Cougars Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key SMU Mustangs Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Corey Davis Jr. comes into this game averaging 15.5 points per contest while playing 32.6 minutes per night this year. He grabs 3.5 rebounds per contest and distributes 3.2 assists per game. His FG percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is 93%. Armoni Brooks averages 14.2 points per contest in 31.8 minutes per game. He averages 1.1 assists per game and 6.8 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 39% for the season while his free throw percentage is 48%.

Player Spotlight

Jahmal McMurray scores 18.9 points per contest while playing 32.6 minutes per game. He hauls in 2.3 rebounds per contest and has 2.5 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is at 78%. Ethan Chargois averages 13.1 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 25.3 minutes per game. He also brings in 6.4 rebounds per game and has 1.5 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is 67%.

Useful Team Statistics

Houston averages 75.3 points per contest, which is 145th in D-1. Their average scoring margin is 14.6 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a unit, which has them ranked 231st. From 3-point territory they shoot 33%, which is good for 216th in the nation. They average 42.0 boards per contest and 15.6 assists per game, which ranks them 10th and 60th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 310th with 11.6 per game. The Cougars allow 60.6 points per contest, which is 9th in the NCAA. They also surrender a 37% shooting percentage and a 27% average from 3-point range, ranking them 2nd and 7th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 34.5 rebounds a game which ranks 156th, and they allow 10.6 assists per game which puts them in 35th place in the country. They force 13.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 136th in Division 1.

Useful Team Statistics

SMU is 134th in the nation with 75.6 points per contest this season. They are 167th in the country in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 9.2. They shoot 35% from beyond the arc, which is good for 149th in the NCAA. They are 120th in D-1 in rebounding with 37.0 boards per contest and 113th in assists per game with 14.6. The Mustangs are 320th in turnovers per contest with 11.3. The Mustangs give up 66.4 points per game, which ranks them 58th in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 42% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 116th and 199th in those defensive statistics. They rank 240th with 13.9 dimes allowed per game and 15th with 30.7 boards surrendered per contest. The Mustangs are 169th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 13.6 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Cougars have an offensive rating of 110, which is ranked 68th. They are 269th in college basketball in pace with 68.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 197th. As a unit they are 199th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 45% of their shot attempts, ranking 48th in D-1. Houston is 312th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.3 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

SMU is 319th 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 113.2, which is ranked 32nd. They are 322nd in D-1 in pace with 66.8 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 157th. As a unit they are 165th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shot attempts, ranking 138th in the country.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Houston -1

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