St. Mary's at BYU NCAA Basketball Picks & Predictions 1/24/2019

Thursday, January 24, 2019

Marriott Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The St. Mary's Gaels travel to Marriott Center to play the BYU Cougars on Thursday, January 24, 2019. The opening line for this matchup has St. Mary's as 1.5 point favorites.

St. Mary's heads into this matchup with a mark of 13-7. They currently have a point differential of 11.9 as they are averaging 77.1 points per contest while giving up 65.3 per game. BYU has an overall mark of 12-9. They are averaging 82.5 points per contest and giving up 78.3, which is a point differential of 4.2.

Valuable St. Mary's Gaels Betting Trends

The St. Mary's Gaels are 14-6-0 against the spread

The St. Mary's Gaels are 11-9-0 against the over/under

Important BYU Cougars Betting Trends

The BYU Cougars are 8-13-0 against the spread

The BYU Cougars are 11-9-1 against the over/under

Key St. Mary's Gaels Injuries

11/08/18 C Aaron Menzies Hand is out indefinitely
11/08/18 G Kristers Zoriks ACL is out for season

Key BYU Cougars Injuries

01/19/19 G Jahshire Hardnett Hand is downgraded to doubtful Saturday vs San Francisco

Player Spotlight

Jordan Ford comes into this contest averaging 22.3 points per game while playing 35.5 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 2.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.9 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 55% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 81%. Malik Fitts averages 15.0 points per game in 30.4 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.3 assists per contest and 7.9 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 46% for the year while his free throw percentage is 81%.

Player Spotlight

Yoeli Childs averages 22.3 points per game while playing 32.9 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 9.6 rebounds per game and has 2.3 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 55% and his free throw percentage is at 72%. TJ Haws averages 17.7 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 33.8 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.0 rebounds per contest and 5.1 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is 86%.

Useful Team Statistics

St. Mary's averages 77.1 points per contest this season, which ranks them 94th in the NCAA. Their average scoring margin is 11.9 and their shooting percentage is 49% as a team, which has them ranked 20th. Behind the arc they shoot 40% which is good for 12th in the nation. They average 34.4 rebounds per game and 11.8 assists per game, which ranks them 252nd and 296th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 342nd with 10.3 per game. The Gaels allow 65.3 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 40th in the country. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 30% average from behind the arc, ranking them 198th and 30th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 29.6 rebounds a game which ranks 9th and they give up 10.3 assists per contest, which puts them in 17th place in Division 1. They force 11.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 36th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

BYU is 28th in the country with 82.5 points per game this year. They are 46th in Division 1 in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 4.2. They shoot 32% from 3-point range, which is good for 272nd in the nation. They are 138th in the NCAA in rebounding with 36.4 boards per game, and 49th in assists per contest with 15.7. The Cougars are 307th in turnovers per game with 11.6. The Cougars surrender 78.3 points per contest, which ranks them 316th in D-1. Their defense allows a 44% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 177th and 287th in those defensive statistics. They rank 241st with 13.8 assists allowed per contest and 262nd with 36.8 rebounds surrendered per game. The Cougars are 101st in country in forcing turnovers with 12.6 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Gaels have an offensive rating of 116.1, which is ranked 12th. They are 330th in college basketball in pace with 66.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 56% is 24th. As a unit they are 18th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 254th in D-1. St. Mary's is 334th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.6 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

BYU is 328th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.9 times per 100 possessions. The Cougars have an offensive rating of 110.3, which is ranked 62nd. They are 47th in D-1 in pace with 73.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 76th. As a unit they are 50th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shot attempts, ranking 227th in the country.

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

Tony's Pick: Take BYU +1.5

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