Nebraska at Michigan State NCAA Basketball Picks & Predictions 3/5/2019

Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Breslin Student Events Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Nebraska Cornhuskers travel to Breslin Student Events Center to play the Michigan State Spartans on Tuesday, March 5, 2019. The opening line for this matchup has Michigan State as 13 point favorites.

Nebraska comes into this game with an overall record of 15-14. They currently have a point differential of 6.2 as they are averaging 71.2 points per game while giving up 65.1 per contest. Michigan State has an overall record of 23-6. They are averaging 79.5 points per game and surrendering 65.7, good for a point differential of 13.8.

Valuable Nebraska Cornhuskers Betting Trends

The Nebraska Cornhuskers are 12-14-2 against the spread

The Nebraska Cornhuskers are 12-16-0 against the over/under

Important Michigan State Spartans Betting Trends

The Michigan State Spartans are 20-9-0 against the spread

The Michigan State Spartans are 11-18-0 against the over/under

Key Nebraska Cornhuskers Injuries

11/09/18 G Karrington Davis Achilles is out for season
01/26/19 F Isaac Copeland Jr. Knee is out for season

Key Michigan State Spartans Injuries

03/02/19 G Kyle Ahrens Back is out indefinitely
02/17/19 F Nick Ward Hand is out indefinitely
01/07/19 G Joshua Langford Ankle is out for season

Player Spotlight

James Palmer comes into this contest averaging 18.5 points per game while playing 34.1 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 4.3 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.1 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 79%. Glynn Watson Jr. averages 12.3 points per game in 33.1 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.9 assists per contest and 4.0 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 41% for the year while his free throw percentage is 82%.

Player Spotlight

Cassius Winston averages 19.2 points per game while playing 33.4 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 3.0 rebounds per game and has 7.6 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 83%. Xavier Tillman averages 9.0 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 22.4 minutes per contest. He also averages 7.1 rebounds per contest and 1.8 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 62% and his free throw percentage is 72%.

Useful Team Statistics

Nebraska averages 71.2 points per contest this season, which ranks them 218th in the NCAA. Their average scoring margin is 6.2 and their shooting percentage is 43% as a team, which has them ranked 264th. Behind the arc they shoot 34% which is good for 228th in the nation. They average 36.0 rebounds per game and 12.9 assists per game, which ranks them 148th and 224th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 345th with 9.7 per game. The Cornhuskers allow 65.1 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 33rd in the country. They also allow a 41% shooting percentage and a 32% average from behind the arc, ranking them 44th and 58th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 38.2 rebounds a game which ranks 317th and they give up 10.4 assists per contest, which puts them in 14th place in Division 1. They force 13.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 166th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Michigan State is 41st in the country with 79.5 points per game this year. They are 15th in Division 1 in shooting at 49%, while their average scoring margin is 13.8. They shoot 38% from 3-point range, which is good for 27th in the nation. They are 5th in the NCAA in rebounding with 41.2 boards per game, and 3rd in assists per contest with 19.3. The Spartans are 172nd in turnovers per game with 13.1. The Spartans surrender 65.7 points per contest, which ranks them 45th in D-1. Their defense allows a 37% shooting percentage and a 31% average from 3-point range, ranking them 3rd and 47th in those defensive statistics. They rank 103rd with 12.2 assists allowed per contest and 73rd with 32.8 rebounds surrendered per game. The Spartans are 14th in country in forcing turnovers with 10.7 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Cornhuskers have an offensive rating of 105.9, which is ranked 127th. They are 280th in college basketball in pace with 67.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 49% is 275th. As a unit they are 277th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 52% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shot attempts, ranking 202nd in D-1. Nebraska is 344th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.5 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Michigan State is 170th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.3 times per 100 possessions. The Spartans are 12th in the country in offensive rating with 114.4. In terms of pace they are 199th in Division 1 with 68.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 56% is 18th. As a team they are 14th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shots, ranking 207th in the nation.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Michigan State -13

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