Butler vs St. John's Expert NCAA Basketball Picks Against the Spread 12/31/2019

Game: Butler Bulldogs vs St. John's Red Storm

Date: Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Location: Carnesecca Arena in Jamaica, NY

TV: FS1

Odds/Point Spread: St. John's +5.5

Total/Over-Under: 139.5

The Butler Bulldogs travel to Carnesecca Arena to play the St. John's Red Storm on Tuesday, December 31, 2019. The opening line for this matchup has Butler as 5.5 point favorites.

Butler comes into this game with an overall record of 12-1. They currently have a point differential of 15.6 as they are averaging 69.2 points per game while giving up 53.6 per contest. St. John's has an overall record of 11-2. They are averaging 79.8 points per game and surrendering 66.8, good for a point differential of 13.0.

Valuable Butler Bulldogs Betting Trends

The Butler Bulldogs are 9-3-1 against the spread

The Butler Bulldogs are 4-9-0 against the over/under

Important St. John's Red Storm Betting Trends

The St. John's Red Storm are 8-4-1 against the spread

The St. John's Red Storm are 4-9-0 against the over/under

Key Butler Bulldogs Injuries

12/28/19 C Derrik Smits Knee is questionable
11/14/19 G Campbell Donovan ACL is out for season

Key St. John's Red Storm Injuries

12/21/19 G Mustapha Heron Ankle is questionable

Player Spotlight

Kamar Baldwin comes into this contest averaging 13.9 points per game while playing 28.6 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 4.5 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.1 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 39% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 96%. Sean McDermott averages 11.3 points per game in 31.2 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.1 assists per contest and 4.8 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 55% for the year while his free throw percentage is 87%.

Player Spotlight

LJ Figueroa averages 15.5 points per game while playing 27.9 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 5.3 rebounds per game and has 2.2 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 39% and his free throw percentage is at 70%. Mustapha Heron averages 15.2 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 25.2 minutes per contest. He also averages 2.1 rebounds per contest and 1.7 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is 78%.

Useful Team Statistics

Butler averages 69.2 points per contest this season, which ranks them 242nd in the NCAA. Their average scoring margin is 15.6 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 28th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 84th in the nation. They average 33.9 rebounds per game and 14.6 assists per game, which ranks them 275th and 103rd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 344th with 10.4 per game. The Bulldogs allow 53.6 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 4th in the country. They also allow a 37% shooting percentage and a 28% average from behind the arc, ranking them 15th and 28th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 28.6 rebounds a game which ranks 3rd and they give up 10.0 assists per contest, which puts them in 30th place in Division 1. They force 13.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 114th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

St. John's is 41st in the country with 79.8 points per game this year. They are 229th in Division 1 in shooting at 43%, while their average scoring margin is 13.0. They shoot 32% from 3-point range, which is good for 247th in the nation. They are 6th in the NCAA in rebounding with 43.1 boards per game, and 95th in assists per contest with 14.8. The Red Storm are 228th in turnovers per game with 13.1. The Red Storm surrender 66.8 points per contest, which ranks them 140th in D-1. Their defense allows a 38% shooting percentage and a 31% average from 3-point range, ranking them 27th and 94th in those defensive statistics. They rank 198th with 12.8 assists allowed per contest and 322nd with 39.0 rebounds surrendered per game. The Red Storm are 330th in country in forcing turnovers with 17.9 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Bulldogs have an offensive rating of 108.4, which is ranked 64th. They are 346th in college basketball in pace with 63.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 55% is 37th. As a unit they are 38th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shot attempts, ranking 183rd in D-1. Butler is 305th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.7 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

St. John's is 318th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.3 times per 100 possessions. The Red Storm have an offensive rating of 104.7, which is ranked 119th. They are 18th in D-1 in pace with 76.2 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 47% is 286th. As a unit they are 266th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 51% and they shoot 3-pointers on 29% of their shot attempts, ranking 327th in the country.

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

Josh's Pick: Take St. John's +5.5

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