St. John's at Xavier College Basketball Game Picks 3/9/2019

Saturday, March 9, 2019

Cintas Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The St. John's Red Storm head to Cintas Center to take on the Xavier Musketeers on Saturday, March 9, 2019. The opening line for this game has Xavier as 2.5 point favorites.

St. John's heads into this matchup with a mark of 20-10. They currently have a point differential of 4.2 as they are averaging 78.5 points per contest while giving up 74.2 per game. Xavier has an overall record of 16-14. They are averaging 72.0 points per game and surrendering 71.0, good for a point differential of 1.0.

Valuable St. John's Red Storm Betting Trends

The St. John's Red Storm are 12-16-2 against the spread this season

The St. John's Red Storm are 15-14-1 against the over/under this year

Important Xavier Musketeers Betting Trends

The Xavier Musketeers are 12-17-1 against the spread this season

The Xavier Musketeers are 12-18-0 against the over/under this year

Key St. John's Red Storm Injuries

01/03/19 G Mikey Dixon Transferred has left team

Key Xavier Musketeers Injuries

03/05/19 G Keonte Kennedy Personal is out for season

Player Spotlight

Shamorie Ponds comes into this game averaging 19.8 points per contest while playing 35.1 minutes per night this year. He grabs 4.3 rebounds per contest and distributes 5.0 assists per game. His FG percentage is 41% while his free throw percentage is 84%. Mustapha Heron averages 15.1 points per contest in 31.3 minutes per game. He averages 1.4 assists per game and 4.8 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 45% for the season while his free throw percentage is 76%.

Player Spotlight

Naji Marshall scores 14.9 points per contest while playing 35.6 minutes per game. He hauls in 6.7 rebounds per contest and has 3.3 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is at 72%. Paul Scruggs averages 11.9 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 31.9 minutes per game. He also brings in 4.8 rebounds per game and has 3.2 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is 76%.

Useful Team Statistics

St. John's averages 78.5 points per contest, which is 49th in D-1. Their average scoring margin is 4.2 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a unit, which has them ranked 95th. From 3-point territory they shoot 37%, which is good for 61st in the nation. They average 33.1 boards per contest and 14.2 assists per game, which ranks them 294th and 111th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 330th with 10.7 per game. The Red Storm allow 74.2 points per contest, which is 249th in the NCAA. They also surrender a 43% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 124th and 145th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 38.6 rebounds a game which ranks 325th, and they allow 13.4 assists per game which puts them in 207th place in the country. They force 15.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 323rd in Division 1.

Useful Team Statistics

Xavier is 194th in the nation with 72.0 points per contest this season. They are 52nd in the country in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 1.0. They shoot 34% from beyond the arc, which is good for 220th in the NCAA. They are 142nd in D-1 in rebounding with 36.1 boards per contest and 96th in assists per game with 14.5. The Musketeers are 105th in turnovers per contest with 13.7. The Musketeers give up 71.0 points per game, which ranks them 170th in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 44% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 160th and 251st in those defensive statistics. They rank 278th with 14.4 dimes allowed per game and 51st with 32.1 boards surrendered per contest. The Musketeers are 38th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 11.3 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Red Storm are 106th in the nation in offensive rating with 106.8. In terms of pace they are 44th in the country with 72.6 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 97th. As a team they are 99th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shots, ranking 165th in Division 1. St. John's is 337th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.2 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Xavier is 71st in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17.5 times per 100 possessions. The Musketeers have an offensive rating of 106.3, which is ranked 115th. They are 282nd in D-1 in pace with 67.2 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 83rd. As a unit they are 96th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shot attempts, ranking 200th in the country.

Who will win tonight's St. John's/Xavier college basketball game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take St. John's +2.5

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