UCF at Cincinnati Expert NCAA Basketball Picks 2/21/2019

Thursday, February 21, 2019

Fifth Third Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The UCF Knights head to Fifth Third Arena to take on the Cincinnati Bearcats on Thursday, February 21, 2019. The opening line for this game has Cincinnati as 8.5 point favorites.

UCF comes into this game with an overall record of 19-5. They currently have a point differential of 8.8 as they are averaging 73.6 points per game while giving up 64.9 per contest. Cincinnati has an overall record of 21-4. They are averaging 74.0 points per game and surrendering 61.8, good for a point differential of 12.2.

Valuable UCF Knights Betting Trends

The UCF Knights are 13-10-1 against the spread this season

The UCF Knights are 13-10-1 against the over/under this year

Important Cincinnati Bearcats Betting Trends

The Cincinnati Bearcats are 12-13-0 against the spread this season

The Cincinnati Bearcats are 13-12-0 against the over/under this year

Key UCF Knights Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Cincinnati Bearcats Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

B.J. Taylor comes into this game averaging 16.9 points per contest while playing 33.9 minutes per night this year. He grabs 2.2 rebounds per contest and distributes 3.5 assists per game. His FG percentage is 42% while his free throw percentage is 78%. Aubrey Dawkins averages 15.3 points per contest in 33.0 minutes per game. He averages 1.4 assists per game and 5.1 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 46% for the season while his free throw percentage is 79%.

Player Spotlight

Jarron Cumberland scores 19.3 points per contest while playing 31.5 minutes per game. He hauls in 4.2 rebounds per contest and has 3.5 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is at 77%. Keith Williams averages 10.9 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 25.5 minutes per game. He also brings in 3.2 rebounds per game and has 0.9 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is 67%.

Useful Team Statistics

UCF averages 73.6 points per contest, which is 164th in D-1. Their average scoring margin is 8.8 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a unit, which has them ranked 67th. From 3-point territory they shoot 35%, which is good for 151st in the nation. They average 36.9 boards per contest and 13.5 assists per game, which ranks them 104th and 181st in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 307th with 11.5 per game. The Knights allow 64.9 points per contest, which is 32nd in the NCAA. They also surrender a 40% shooting percentage and a 32% average from 3-point range, ranking them 17th and 70th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 35.5 rebounds a game which ranks 216th, and they allow 12.8 assists per game which puts them in 147th place in the country. They force 12.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 124th in Division 1.

Useful Team Statistics

Cincinnati is 150th in the nation with 74.0 points per contest this season. They are 182nd in the country in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 12.2. They shoot 36% from beyond the arc, which is good for 120th in the NCAA. They are 154th in D-1 in rebounding with 35.9 boards per contest and 112th in assists per game with 14.2. The Bearcats are 335th in turnovers per contest with 10.4. The Bearcats give up 61.8 points per game, which ranks them 11th in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 40% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 29th and 234th in those defensive statistics. They rank 53rd with 11.4 dimes allowed per game and 12th with 30.4 boards surrendered per contest. The Bearcats are 244th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 14.2 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Knights are 85th in the nation in offensive rating with 108.1. In terms of pace they are 272nd in the country with 67.8 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 98th. As a team they are 114th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 248th in Division 1. UCF is 292nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.8 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Cincinnati is 338th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.2 times per 100 possessions. The Bearcats have an offensive rating of 111.9, which is ranked 35th. They are 334th in D-1 in pace with 65.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 211th. As a unit they are 185th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shot attempts, ranking 297th in the country.

Who will win tonight's UCF/Cincinnati college basketball game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take UCF +8.5

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