Houston vs Temple Expert NCAA Basketball Picks 1/7/2020

Game: Houston Cougars vs Temple Owls

Date: Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Location: Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, PA

TV: CBSS

Odds/Point Spread: Temple +2.5

Total/Over-Under: 135

The Houston Cougars head to Liacouras Center to take on the Temple Owls on Tuesday, January 7, 2020. The opening line for this game has Houston as 2.5 point favorites.

Houston heads into this matchup with a mark of 11-3. They currently have a point differential of 11.9 as they are averaging 77.2 points per contest while giving up 65.3 per game. Temple has an overall record of 9-4. They are averaging 69.8 points per game and surrendering 62.5, good for a point differential of 7.3.

Valuable Houston Cougars Betting Trends

The Houston Cougars are 8-6-0 against the spread this season

The Houston Cougars are 9-5-0 against the over/under this year

Important Temple Owls Betting Trends

The Temple Owls are 7-6-0 against the spread this season

The Temple Owls are 3-10-0 against the over/under this year

Key Houston Cougars Injuries

11/16/19 F J'Wan Roberts Hand is out for season

Key Temple Owls Injuries

12/23/19 G Damian Dunn Foot is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Quentin Grimes comes into this game averaging 14.8 points per contest while playing 31.0 minutes per night this year. He grabs 4.1 rebounds per contest and distributes 3.0 assists per game. His FG percentage is 36% while his free throw percentage is 68%. Nate Hinton averages 12.7 points per contest in 29.8 minutes per game. He averages 1.8 assists per game and 9.7 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 44% for the season while his free throw percentage is 71%.

Player Spotlight

Quinton Rose scores 14.1 points per contest while playing 31.1 minutes per game. He hauls in 4.8 rebounds per contest and has 4.0 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 36% and his free throw percentage is at 81%. Nate Pierre-Louis averages 10.6 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 29.9 minutes per game. He also brings in 8.8 rebounds per game and has 3.1 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 40% and his free throw percentage is 60%.

Useful Team Statistics

Houston averages 77.2 points per contest, which is 66th in D-1. Their average scoring margin is 11.9 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a unit, which has them ranked 163rd. From 3-point territory they shoot 36%, which is good for 88th in the nation. They average 43.0 boards per contest and 13.6 assists per game, which ranks them 4th and 155th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 300th with 12.1 per game. The Cougars allow 65.3 points per contest, which is 95th in the NCAA. They also surrender a 38% shooting percentage and a 32% average from 3-point range, ranking them 23rd and 156th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 31.9 rebounds a game which ranks 51st, and they allow 12.1 assists per game which puts them in 155th place in the country. They force 11.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 32nd in Division 1.

Useful Team Statistics

Temple is 228th in the nation with 69.8 points per contest this season. They are 307th in the country in shooting at 41%, while their average scoring margin is 7.3. They shoot 33% from beyond the arc, which is good for 218th in the NCAA. They are 30th in D-1 in rebounding with 40.6 boards per contest and 72nd in assists per game with 14.9. The Owls are 216th in turnovers per contest with 13.2. The Owls give up 62.5 points per game, which ranks them 51st in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 38% shooting percentage and a 29% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 19th and 32nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 165th with 12.3 dimes allowed per game and 260th with 36.8 boards surrendered per contest. The Owls are 198th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 14.4 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Cougars have an offensive rating of 112.1, which is ranked 17th. They are 252nd in college basketball in pace with 68.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 50% is 184th. As a unit they are 156th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shot attempts, ranking 273rd in D-1. Houston is 318th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.4 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Temple is 253rd in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.9 times per 100 possessions. The Owls have an offensive rating of 97.2, which is ranked 269th. They are 104th in D-1 in pace with 71.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 47% is 288th. As a unit they are 303rd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 50% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shot attempts, ranking 136th in the country.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Houston -2.5

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