Michigan State at Nebraska NCAA Basketball Picks & Predictions 1/17/2019

Thursday, January 17, 2019

Pinnacle Bank Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Michigan State Spartans travel to Pinnacle Bank Arena to play the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Thursday, January 17, 2019. The opening line for this matchup has Michigan State as 1 point favorites.

Michigan State comes into this game with an overall record of 15-2. They currently have a point differential of 18.7 as they are averaging 85.5 points per game while giving up 66.8 per contest. Nebraska has an overall record of 13-4. They are averaging 78.5 points per game and surrendering 60.8, good for a point differential of 17.6.

Valuable Michigan State Spartans Betting Trends

The Michigan State Spartans are 13-4-0 against the spread

The Michigan State Spartans are 8-9-0 against the over/under

Important Nebraska Cornhuskers Betting Trends

The Nebraska Cornhuskers are 10-4-2 against the spread

The Nebraska Cornhuskers are 7-9-0 against the over/under

Key Michigan State Spartans Injuries

01/16/19 G Kyle Ahrens Back is questionable Thursday vs Nebraska
01/07/19 G Joshua Langford Ankle is out indefinitely

Key Nebraska Cornhuskers Injuries

11/09/18 G Karrington Davis Achilles is out for season

Player Spotlight

Cassius Winston comes into this contest averaging 17.6 points per game while playing 31.1 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 2.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 7.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 40% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 80%. Nick Ward averages 16.6 points per game in 22.6 minutes per contest this season. He averages 0.9 assists per contest and 6.8 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 65% for the year while his free throw percentage is 66%.

Player Spotlight

James Palmer averages 19.0 points per game while playing 32.6 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 4.3 rebounds per game and has 3.3 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 40% and his free throw percentage is at 80%. Isaac Copeland averages 14.3 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 31.2 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.5 rebounds per contest and 1.2 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 54% and his free throw percentage is 71%.

Useful Team Statistics

Michigan State averages 85.5 points per contest this season, which ranks them 12th in the NCAA. Their average scoring margin is 18.7 and their shooting percentage is 51% as a team, which has them ranked 7th. Behind the arc they shoot 40% which is good for 10th in the nation. They average 43.8 rebounds per game and 21.1 assists per game, which ranks them 4th and 1st in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 193rd with 13.2 per game. The Spartans allow 66.8 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 69th in the country. They also allow a 37% shooting percentage and a 31% average from behind the arc, ranking them 3rd and 53rd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 31.8 rebounds a game which ranks 46th and they give up 11.9 assists per contest, which puts them in 85th place in Division 1. They force 10.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 5th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Nebraska is 74th in the country with 78.5 points per game this year. They are 64th in Division 1 in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 17.6. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 85th in the nation. They are 146th in the NCAA in rebounding with 36.5 boards per game, and 111th in assists per contest with 14.6. The Cornhuskers are 340th in turnovers per game with 10.4. The Cornhuskers surrender 60.8 points per contest, which ranks them 10th in D-1. Their defense allows a 38% shooting percentage and a 28% average from 3-point range, ranking them 14th and 10th in those defensive statistics. They rank 4th with 9.2 assists allowed per contest and 225th with 36.0 rebounds surrendered per game. The Cornhuskers are 237th in country in forcing turnovers with 14.6 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Spartans have an offensive rating of 118.8, which is ranked 5th. They are 121st in college basketball in pace with 71.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 58% is 8th. As a unit they are 8th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 61% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shot attempts, ranking 218th in D-1. Michigan State is 223rd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.7 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Nebraska is 340th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.2 times per 100 possessions. The Cornhuskers are 23rd in the country in offensive rating with 114.2. In terms of pace they are 256th in Division 1 with 68.7 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 55% is 60th. As a team they are 47th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 41% of their shots, ranking 120th in the nation.

Who will win tonight's Michigan State/Nebraska college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Nebraska +1

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