Connecticut vs South Florida Expert NCAA Basketball Picks 1/4/2020

Game: Connecticut Huskies vs South Florida Bulls

Date: Saturday, January 4, 2020

Location: Yuengling Center in Tampa, FL

TV: ESPN2, ESPNU

Odds/Point Spread: South Florida +2.5

Total/Over-Under: 126

The Connecticut Huskies head to Yuengling Center to take on the South Florida Bulls on Saturday, January 4, 2020. The opening line for this game has Connecticut as 2.5 point favorites.

Connecticut heads into this matchup with a mark of 9-4. They currently have a point differential of 10.2 as they are averaging 72.5 points per contest while giving up 62.4 per game. South Florida has an overall mark of 7-7. They are averaging 64.1 points per contest and giving up 62.6, which is a point differential of 1.5.

Valuable Connecticut Huskies Betting Trends

The Connecticut Huskies are 9-4-0 against the spread this season

The Connecticut Huskies are 4-9-0 against the over/under this year

Important South Florida Bulls Betting Trends

The South Florida Bulls are 8-6-0 against the spread this season

The South Florida Bulls are 5-9-0 against the over/under this year

Key Connecticut Huskies Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key South Florida Bulls Injuries

11/05/19 F Mayan Kiir Personal has left team
11/05/19 F Alexis Yetna Knee is out for season
01/02/20 G Rashun Williams Hamstring is questionable

Player Spotlight

Christian Vital comes into this game averaging 13.8 points per contest while playing 28.8 minutes per night this year. He grabs 7.1 rebounds per contest and distributes 2.8 assists per game. His FG percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage is 86%. Josh Carlton averages 10.2 points per contest in 24.3 minutes per game. He averages 0.6 assists per game and 7.2 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 50% for the season while his free throw percentage is 51%.

Player Spotlight

David Collins scores 14.5 points per contest while playing 29.2 minutes per game. He hauls in 3.3 rebounds per contest and has 1.8 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 61%. Laquincy Rideau averages 13.1 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 32.5 minutes per game. He also brings in 4.4 rebounds per game and has 4.1 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 39% and his free throw percentage is 45%.

Useful Team Statistics

Connecticut averages 72.5 points per contest, which is 167th in D-1. Their average scoring margin is 10.2 and their shooting percentage is 42% as a unit, which has them ranked 257th. From 3-point territory they shoot 35%, which is good for 101st in the nation. They average 38.6 boards per contest and 13.5 assists per game, which ranks them 85th and 182nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 157th with 13.9 per game. The Huskies allow 62.4 points per contest, which is 51st in the NCAA. They also surrender a 39% shooting percentage and a 29% average from 3-point range, ranking them 57th and 38th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 36.2 rebounds a game which ranks 231st, and they allow 10.7 assists per game which puts them in 59th place in the country. They force 16.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 305th in Division 1.

Useful Team Statistics

South Florida is 320th in the nation with 64.1 points per contest this season. They are 263rd in the country in shooting at 42%, while their average scoring margin is 1.5. They shoot 34% from beyond the arc, which is good for 161st in the NCAA. They are 293rd in D-1 in rebounding with 33.6 boards per contest and 337th in assists per game with 10.0. The Bulls are 43rd in turnovers per contest with 15.6. The Bulls give up 62.6 points per game, which ranks them 54th in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 307th and 291st in those defensive statistics. They rank 107th with 11.6 dimes allowed per game and 14th with 29.8 boards surrendered per contest. The Bulls are 317th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 17.1 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Huskies are 173rd in the nation in offensive rating with 101.9. In terms of pace they are 217th in the country with 69.8 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 49% is 250th. As a team they are 234th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 52% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 229th in Division 1. Connecticut is 184th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.7 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

South Florida is 29th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 19.7 times per 100 possessions. The Bulls have an offensive rating of 95.9, which is ranked 279th. They are 324th in D-1 in pace with 66.2 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 49% is 248th. As a unit they are 288th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 51% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shot attempts, ranking 151st in the country.

Who will win tonight's Connecticut/South Florida college basketball game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Connecticut -2.5

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