West Virginia at Tennessee NCAA Basketball Picks 1/26/2019

Saturday, January 26, 2019

Thompson-Boling Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The West Virginia Mountaineers travel to Thompson-Boling Arena to play the Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday, January 26, 2019. The opening line for this matchup has Tennessee as 16.5 point favorites.

West Virginia comes into this game with an overall record of 9-10. They currently have a point differential of 0.6 as they are averaging 74.5 points per game while giving up 73.9 per contest. Tennessee has an overall record of 17-1. They are averaging 86.2 points per game and surrendering 67.5, good for a point differential of 18.7.

Valuable West Virginia Mountaineers Betting Trends

The West Virginia Mountaineers are 8-11-0 against the spread

The West Virginia Mountaineers are 11-8-0 against the over/under

Important Tennessee Volunteers Betting Trends

The Tennessee Volunteers are 9-7-1 against the spread

The Tennessee Volunteers are 10-7-0 against the over/under

Key West Virginia Mountaineers Injuries

12/22/18 F Sagaba Konate Knee is out indefinitely

Key Tennessee Volunteers Injuries

11/09/18 F Zach Kent Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

James Bolden averages 12.8 points per game in 22.0 minutes per contest. He averages 2.6 assists per contest and 2.7 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 42% for the year while his free throw percentage is 82%. Esa Ahmad comes into this contest averaging 12.3 points per game while playing 27.7 minutes per night. He pulls down 5.6 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.8 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 57% while his free throw percentage is at 68%.

Player Spotlight

Admiral Schofield averages 16.7 points per game and he sees the court an average of 31.1 minutes per contest. He also averages 6.4 rebounds per contest and 2.7 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 72%. Grant Williams averages 20.3 points per game while playing 31.2 minutes per contest. He grabs 7.5 rebounds per game and has 3.6 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 57% and his free throw percentage is at 85%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Mountaineers allow 73.9 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 245th in Division 1. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 152nd and 233rd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 35.0 rebounds a game which ranks 179th, and they give up 12.5 assists per contest which puts them in 131st place in the NCAA. They force 13.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 132nd in the nation. West Virginia averages 74.5 points per contest this season, which ranks them 156th in the country. Their average scoring margin is 0.6 and their shooting percentage is 42% as a team, which has them ranked 287th. Behind the arc they shoot 32% which is good for 284th in D-1. They average 40.2 rebounds per game and 13.1 assists per contest, which ranks them 24th and 213th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 47th with 15.2 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Volunteers surrender 67.5 points per contest, which ranks them 85th in the NCAA. Their defense allows a 39% shooting percentage and a 31% average from 3-point range, ranking them 14th and 61st in those defensive statistics. They rank 112th with 12.3 assists allowed per contest, and 127th with 33.9 rebounds surrendered per game. The Volunteers are 204th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 14.0 per game. Tennessee is 6th in the country with 86.2 points per game this year. They are 2nd in the D-1 in shooting at 51%, while their average scoring margin is 18.7. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 115th in the nation. They are 39th in the country in rebounding with 39.2 boards per game and 2nd in assists per contest with 19.8. The Volunteers are 305th in turnovers per game with 11.5.

Advanced Statistics

The Mountaineers are 170th in the nation in offensive rating with 104.3. In terms of pace they are 130th in the country with 70.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 49% is 284th. As a team they are 254th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shots, ranking 130th in Division 1. West Virginia is 79th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17.7 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Tennessee is 328th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.9 times per 100 possessions. The Volunteers have an offensive rating of 119.1, which is ranked 3rd. They are 112th in D-1 in pace with 71.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 56% is 14th. As a unit they are 6th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 60% and they shoot 3-pointers on 31% of their shot attempts, ranking 329th in the country.

Who will win tonight's West Virginia/Tennessee college basketball game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Tennessee -16.5

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