UCF at Houston Expert NCAA Basketball Picks 3/2/2019

Saturday, March 2, 2019

Fertitta Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The UCF Knights head to Fertitta Center to take on the Houston Cougars on Saturday, March 2, 2019. The opening line for this game has Houston as 8 point favorites.

UCF comes into this game with an overall record of 21-6. They currently have a point differential of 9.8 as they are averaging 73.8 points per game while giving up 64.0 per contest. Houston has an overall mark of 27-1. They are averaging 76.1 points per contest and giving up 60.5, which is a point differential of 15.6.

Valuable UCF Knights Betting Trends

The UCF Knights are 16-10-1 against the spread this season

The UCF Knights are 15-11-1 against the over/under this year

Important Houston Cougars Betting Trends

The Houston Cougars are 18-8-2 against the spread this season

The Houston Cougars are 12-16-0 against the over/under this year

Key UCF Knights Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Houston Cougars Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

B.J. Taylor comes into this game averaging 16.5 points per contest while playing 33.9 minutes per night this year. He grabs 2.1 rebounds per contest and distributes 3.4 assists per game. His FG percentage is 43% while his free throw percentage is 77%. Aubrey Dawkins averages 15.2 points per contest in 32.8 minutes per game. He averages 1.3 assists per game and 5.1 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 46% for the season while his free throw percentage is 80%.

Player Spotlight

Corey Davis Jr. scores 16.0 points per contest while playing 32.1 minutes per game. He hauls in 3.3 rebounds per contest and has 2.8 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is at 87%. Armoni Brooks averages 13.7 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 30.6 minutes per game. He also brings in 6.3 rebounds per game and has 0.9 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 40% and his free throw percentage is 65%.

Useful Team Statistics

UCF averages 73.8 points per contest, which is 142nd in D-1. Their average scoring margin is 9.8 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a unit, which has them ranked 51st. From 3-point territory they shoot 36%, which is good for 116th in the nation. They average 36.9 boards per contest and 13.7 assists per game, which ranks them 103rd and 152nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 305th with 11.5 per game. The Knights allow 64.0 points per contest, which is 23rd in the NCAA. They also surrender a 39% shooting percentage and a 31% average from 3-point range, ranking them 12th and 52nd in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 34.8 rebounds a game which ranks 178th, and they allow 12.6 assists per game which puts them in 141st place in the country. They force 12.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 119th in Division 1.

Useful Team Statistics

Houston is 93rd in the nation with 76.1 points per contest this season. They are 166th in the country in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 15.6. They shoot 36% from beyond the arc, which is good for 115th in the NCAA. They are 6th in D-1 in rebounding with 41.3 boards per contest and 52nd in assists per game with 15.4. The Cougars are 293rd in turnovers per contest with 11.7. The Cougars give up 60.5 points per game, which ranks them 5th in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 37% shooting percentage and a 28% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 1st and 3rd in those defensive statistics. They rank 21st with 10.5 dimes allowed per game and 97th with 33.3 boards surrendered per contest. The Cougars are 117th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 12.5 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Knights are 72nd in the nation in offensive rating with 108.9. In terms of pace they are 281st in the country with 67.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 72nd. As a team they are 89th 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 282nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.9 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Houston is 301st in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.6 times per 100 possessions. The Cougars are 34th in the country in offensive rating with 112.2. In terms of pace they are 263rd in Division 1 with 67.8 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 109th. As a team they are 111th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 44% of their shots, ranking 58th in the nation.

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

Guy's Pick: Take UCF +8

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