Northwestern at Nebraska Expert NCAA Basketball Picks Against the Spread 2/16/2019

Saturday, February 16, 2019

Pinnacle Bank Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Northwestern Wildcats travel to Pinnacle Bank Arena to play the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday, February 16, 2019. The opening line for this matchup has Nebraska as 5.5 point favorites.

Northwestern heads into this matchup with a mark of 12-12. They currently have a point differential of 3.0 as they are averaging 67.7 points per contest while giving up 64.8 per game. Nebraska has an overall mark of 14-11. They are averaging 72.4 points per contest and giving up 63.4, which is a point differential of 9.0.

Valuable Northwestern Wildcats Betting Trends

The Northwestern Wildcats are 12-12-0 against the spread

The Northwestern Wildcats are 8-15-1 against the over/under

Important Nebraska Cornhuskers Betting Trends

The Nebraska Cornhuskers are 10-12-2 against the spread

The Nebraska Cornhuskers are 9-15-0 against the over/under

Key Northwestern Wildcats Injuries

01/22/19 F Pete Nance Illness is out indefinitely

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

Player Spotlight

Vic Law comes into this contest averaging 15.5 points per game while playing 32.9 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 6.7 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.9 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 38% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 81%. Dererk Pardon averages 13.7 points per game in 31.9 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.8 assists per contest and 7.6 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 59% for the year while his free throw percentage is 65%.

Player Spotlight

James Palmer averages 19.1 points per game while playing 34.2 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 4.3 rebounds per game and has 3.0 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 38% and his free throw percentage is at 79%. Glynn Watson Jr. averages 12.1 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 32.9 minutes per contest. He also averages 3.9 rebounds per contest and 3.2 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is 82%.

Useful Team Statistics

Northwestern averages 67.7 points per contest this season, which ranks them 299th in the NCAA. Their average scoring margin is 3.0 and their shooting percentage is 41% as a team, which has them ranked 315th. Behind the arc they shoot 33% which is good for 235th in the nation. They average 33.6 rebounds per game and 14.5 assists per game, which ranks them 275th and 95th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 305th with 11.5 per game. The Wildcats allow 64.8 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 36th in the country. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 30% average from behind the arc, ranking them 116th and 18th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 35.0 rebounds a game which ranks 178th and they give up 13.0 assists per contest, which puts them in 173rd place in Division 1. They force 12.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 132nd in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Nebraska is 191st in the country with 72.4 points per game this year. They are 238th in Division 1 in shooting at 43%, while their average scoring margin is 9.0. They shoot 34% from 3-point range, which is good for 191st in the nation. They are 126th in the NCAA in rebounding with 36.5 boards per game, and 208th in assists per contest with 13.2. The Cornhuskers are 345th in turnovers per game with 10.0. The Cornhuskers surrender 63.4 points per contest, which ranks them 18th in D-1. Their defense allows a 40% shooting percentage and a 31% average from 3-point range, ranking them 27th and 39th in those defensive statistics. They rank 7th with 9.8 assists allowed per contest and 302nd with 37.6 rebounds surrendered per game. The Cornhuskers are 176th in country in forcing turnovers with 13.4 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Wildcats have an offensive rating of 99.9, which is ranked 271st. They are 287th in college basketball in pace with 67.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 48% is 305th. As a unit they are 297th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 52% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shot attempts, ranking 139th in D-1. Northwestern is 281st in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.9 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Nebraska is 342nd in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.9 times per 100 possessions. The Cornhuskers are 99th in the country in offensive rating with 107.3. In terms of pace they are 281st in Division 1 with 67.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 50% is 233rd. As a team they are 225th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shots, ranking 162nd in the nation.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Nebraska -5.5

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