Dixie State Trailblazers vs Southern Utah Thunderbirds Prediction, 12/17/2020 College Basketball Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Dixie State Trailblazers vs Southern Utah Thunderbirds

Date: Thursday, December 17, 2020

Location: America First Events Center in Cedar City, UT

TV: ESPN+

Odds/Point Spread: Dixie State (+11.5)

The Southern Utah Thunderbirds (4-1) play the Dixie State Trailblazers (3-0) at America First Events Center on Thursday. The line on this contest has Southern Utah as 11.5-point favorites. The O/U has been set at 147.

Dixie State enters this one with a win-loss record of 3-0 this year. They lose possession by turning the ball over 13.3 times per contest and as a basketball team they commit 21.0 personal fouls every game. As a unit, Dixie State is snagging 38.0 rebounds per game and has accumulated 46 assists on the year, which ranks 252nd in the country in terms of passing the rock. The Trailblazers are connecting on 34.8% on three-point attempts (23 of 66) and 65.5% from the charity stripe. They average 77.7 points per contest (108th in the country) while going 45.5% from the field. Defensively, the Trailblazers are able to force 18.3 turnovers per game and they draw 20.7 personal fouls. The Trailblazers defense is giving up a shooting percentage of 41.2% (68 of 165) and they relinquish 36.7 rebounds per game as a group. They are 30th in college basketball in giving up assists with 29 relinquished so far this season. They are relinquishing 21.2% on three-point shots and they are 70th in D-1 in PPG allowed (63.7).

The Dixie State Trailblazers faced the Denver Pioneers and took home the win by a score of 73-70 in their last contest. Dixie State ended the contest with a 42.4% field goal percentage (25 of 59) and made 10 out of their 27 shots from downtown. When they shot from the charity stripe, the Trailblazers converted 13 of 21 tries for a rate of 61.9%. Pertaining to grabbing rebounds, they collected 24 with 4 of them being offensive. They also dished out 13 assists in the game as well as getting 12 steals and 2 blocks. When discussing the defense, Dixie State allowed the other team to go 42.4% from the floor on 25 of 59. Denver earned 9 dimes and 5 steals in this game. Additionally, the Pioneers pulled down 37 boards (4 offensive, 33 defensive) and added 2 blocked shots. Denver finished the game shooting 90.9% from the free throw line by knocking down 20 of their 22 shots. They knocked down 4 of 15 attempts from long range.

Cameron Gooden is a guy who had an impact for the game. He ended up finishing with 23 points on 7 out of 13 shooting. He was on the hardwood for 34 mins played and grabbed 3 boards. Gooden finished shooting 53.8% from the floor and recorded 3 assists. Someone else that came through in this game for the Trailblazers was Frank Staine. He grabbed 2 boards and also had 5 assists. He finished 37.5% from the field in this game by going 3-of-8 (10 points). When the final whistle was blown, Staine played 28 min.

Southern Utah has a mark of 4-1 so far this year. As an offensive team, the Thunderbirds are hitting on 46.9% from the field, which ranks 121st in college basketball. Southern Utah has earned 398 pts for the season (79.6 per game) and they collect 36.0 rebounds per game. They are assisting teammates 16.0 times per game (74th in college basketball) and they turn it over 11.8 times per game. The Thunderbirds are committing 18.0 fouls per contest and they shoot 67.8% from the charity stripe. The Thunderbirds on the defensive end are ranked 148th in college basketball in points per game surrendered with 68.0. They have surrendered 15.0 dimes and 30.4 boards per contest, which ranks them 254th and 41st in D-1. The Southern Utah defense concedes 36.0% on shots from beyond the arc (31 of 86) and their opponents are connecting on 64.1% of their foul shots. They are able to force 13.6 turnovers per game and have allowed teams to shoot 45.1% from the floor (249th in college basketball).

The last time they took the court, the Southern Utah Thunderbirds walked away with a victory by a final of 81-71 when they faced the Utah Valley Wolverines. The Thunderbirds were able to corral 33 defensive rebounds and 9 offensive rebounds totaling 42 in the game. They turned away 5 shots while earning 2 steals for the game. The Wolverines earned 25 personal fouls in this matchup which took the Thunderbirds to the charity stripe for 33 attempts. They were able to make 20 of those for a percentage of 60.6%. In reference to shooting from beyond the arc, Southern Utah buried 7 of 21 tries (33.3%). When this game wrapped up, the Thunderbirds shot 27 out of 56 from the field which had them at 48.2%. The Thunderbirds permitted the Wolverines to knock down 26 out of their 59 tries from the floor which gave them a rate of 44.1% in this matchup. They finished the game shooting 27.8% from distance by shooting 5 out of 18 and ended up shooting 14 out of 21 from the free throw line (66.7%). In regard to attacking the glass, Southern Utah allowed Utah Valley to collect 31 in all (4 offensive).

Tevian Jones played big minutes for the Thunderbirds in the game. He converted 10 out of 23 for the contest for a field goal percentage of 43.5%, which got him 33 points. Jones grabbed 5 boards in his 39 mins and accounted for 2 dimes in the matchup. An additional guy that played a role for Southern Utah was Maizen Fausett. He racked up 19 points in 27 minutes on the hardwood by way of 6 out of 8 shooting for the matchup. Fausett finished going 75.0% from the floor as well as totaling 2 assists and 5 rebounds.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Dixie State (+11.5)

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