UC Irvine at Kansas State Expert NCAA Basketball Picks 3/22/2019

Friday, March 22, 2019

SAP Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The UC Irvine Anteaters travel to SAP Center to play the Kansas State Wildcats on Friday, March 22, 2019. The opening line for this matchup has Kansas State as 8.5 point favorites.

UC Irvine heads into this matchup with a mark of 27-5. They currently have a point differential of 9.6 as they are averaging 72.9 points per contest while giving up 63.3 per game. Kansas State has an overall mark of 24-7. They are averaging 65.8 points per contest and giving up 59.2, which is a point differential of 6.6.

Valuable UC Irvine Anteaters Betting Trends

The UC Irvine Anteaters are 20-14-0 against the spread

The UC Irvine Anteaters are 15-16-0 against the over/under

Important Kansas State Wildcats Betting Trends

The Kansas State Wildcats are 19-14-0 against the spread

The Kansas State Wildcats are 12-19-0 against the over/under

Key UC Irvine Anteaters Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Kansas State Wildcats Injuries

03/17/19 F Dean Wade Foot is questionable Friday vs Cal Irvine

Player Spotlight

Evan Leonard averages 11.1 points per game in 23.9 minutes per contest. He averages 1.7 assists per contest and 2.5 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 44% for the year while his free throw percentage is 84%. Max Hazzard comes into this contest averaging 12.5 points per game while playing 26.1 minutes per night. He pulls down 1.9 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 44% while his free throw percentage is at 77%.

Player Spotlight

Kamau Stokes averages 10.8 points per game and he sees the court an average of 32.1 minutes per contest. He also averages 2.8 rebounds per contest and 3.3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 38% and his free throw percentage is 74%. Barry Brown averages 14.9 points per game while playing 35.2 minutes per contest. He grabs 4.1 rebounds per game and has 2.9 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is at 71%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Anteaters allow 63.3 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 20th in Division 1. They also allow a 38% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the arc, ranking them 5th and 112th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 32.7 rebounds a game which ranks 70th, and they give up 9.5 assists per contest which puts them in 3rd place in the NCAA. They force 11.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 52nd in the nation. UC Irvine averages 72.9 points per contest this season, which ranks them 162nd in the country. Their average scoring margin is 9.6 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 84th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 99th in D-1. They average 40.1 rebounds per game and 13.2 assists per contest, which ranks them 12th and 191st in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 282nd with 11.8 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Wildcats surrender 59.2 points per contest, which ranks them 3rd in the NCAA. Their defense allows a 41% shooting percentage and a 31% average from 3-point range, ranking them 58th and 30th in those defensive statistics. They rank 63rd with 11.6 assists allowed per contest, and 52nd with 32.3 rebounds surrendered per game. The Wildcats are 300th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 14.8 per game. Kansas State is 321st in the country with 65.8 points per game this year. They are 247th in the D-1 in shooting at 43%, while their average scoring margin is 6.6. They shoot 34% from 3-point range, which is good for 221st in the nation. They are 283rd in the country in rebounding with 33.3 boards per game and 146th in assists per contest with 13.8. The Wildcats are 309th in turnovers per game with 11.3.

Advanced Statistics

The Anteaters are 73rd in the nation in offensive rating with 108.4. In terms of pace they are 312th in the country with 66.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 138th. As a team they are 164th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shots, ranking 322nd in Division 1. UC Irvine is 272nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.9 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Kansas State is 256th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.1 times per 100 possessions. The Wildcats have an offensive rating of 101.3, which is ranked 237th. They are 335th in D-1 in pace with 65 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 50% is 250th. As a unit they are 288th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 52% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shot attempts, ranking 177th in the country.

Who will win tonight's UC Irvine/Kansas State college basketball game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Kansas State -8.5

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