UMass vs Akron Expert NCAA Basketball Picks 12/30/2019

Game: UMass Minutemen vs Akron Zips

Date: Monday, December 30, 2019

Location: James A. Rhodes Arena in Akron, OH

TV: TBA

Odds/Point Spread: Akron -9

Total/Over-Under: 142

The UMass Minutemen head to James A. Rhodes Arena to take on the Akron Zips on Monday, December 30, 2019. The opening line for this game has Akron as 9 point favorites.

UMass comes into this game with an overall record of 6-6. They currently have a point differential of 0.8 as they are averaging 70.6 points per game while giving up 69.8 per contest. Akron has an overall mark of 9-3. They are averaging 75.5 points per contest and giving up 63.3, which is a point differential of 12.2.

Valuable UMass Minutemen Betting Trends

The UMass Minutemen are 7-5-0 against the spread this season

The UMass Minutemen are 6-6-0 against the over/under this year

Important Akron Zips Betting Trends

The Akron Zips are 6-4-0 against the spread this season

The Akron Zips are 5-5-0 against the over/under this year

Key UMass Minutemen Injuries

12/19/19 G T.J. Weeks Abdominal is out indefinitely
11/11/19 G Kolton Mitchell Hand is out indefinitely

Key Akron Zips Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Carl Pierre comes into this game averaging 13.2 points per contest while playing 31.8 minutes per night this year. He grabs 3.2 rebounds per contest and distributes 1.6 assists per game. His FG percentage is 44% while his free throw percentage is 90%. Tre Mitchell averages 14.2 points per contest in 29.3 minutes per game. He averages 1.8 assists per game and 6.3 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 48% for the season while his free throw percentage is 61%.

Player Spotlight

Loren Jackson scores 14.8 points per contest while playing 31.8 minutes per game. He hauls in 3.3 rebounds per contest and has 4.9 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is at 86%. Xeyrius Williams averages 14.6 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 29.8 minutes per game. He also brings in 9.8 rebounds per game and has 1.4 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 36% and his free throw percentage is 88%.

Useful Team Statistics

UMass averages 70.6 points per contest, which is 211th in D-1. Their average scoring margin is 0.8 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a unit, which has them ranked 190th. From 3-point territory they shoot 36%, which is good for 60th in the nation. They average 31.7 boards per contest and 13.4 assists per game, which ranks them 329th and 176th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 216th with 13.3 per game. The Minutemen allow 69.8 points per contest, which is 199th in the NCAA. They also surrender a 46% shooting percentage and a 30% average from 3-point range, ranking them 307th and 75th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 36.8 rebounds a game which ranks 257th, and they allow 14.8 assists per game which puts them in 302nd place in the country. They force 15.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 263rd in Division 1.

Useful Team Statistics

Akron is 109th in the nation with 75.5 points per contest this season. They are 216th in the country in shooting at 43%, while their average scoring margin is 12.2. They shoot 36% from beyond the arc, which is good for 62nd in the NCAA. They are 60th in D-1 in rebounding with 39.5 boards per contest and 128th in assists per game with 14.3. The Zips are 150th in turnovers per contest with 14.1. The Zips give up 63.3 points per game, which ranks them 63rd in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 39% shooting percentage and a 26% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 48th and 6th in those defensive statistics. They rank 10th with 8.8 dimes allowed per game and 245th with 36.6 boards surrendered per contest. The Zips are 123rd in the nation in forcing turnovers with 13.4 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Minutemen have an offensive rating of 100.5, which is ranked 205th. They are 223rd in college basketball in pace with 69.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 138th. As a unit they are 162nd in the nation in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 42% of their shot attempts, ranking 76th in D-1. UMass is 166th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.8 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Akron is 152nd in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17.1 times per 100 possessions. The Zips have an offensive rating of 104.5, which is ranked 124th. They are 100th in D-1 in pace with 72.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 143rd. As a unit they are 106th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 45% of their shot attempts, ranking 40th in the country.

Who will win tonight's UMass/Akron college basketball game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take UMass +9

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