Iowa vs Penn State College Basketball Game Picks 1/4/2020

Game: Iowa Hawkeyes vs Penn State Nittany Lions

Date: Saturday, January 4, 2020

Location: Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, PA

TV: BTN

Odds/Point Spread: Penn State -3

Total/Over-Under: 153

The Iowa Hawkeyes head to Bryce Jordan Center to take on the Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday, January 4, 2020. The opening line for this game has Penn State as 3 point favorites.

Iowa comes into this game with an overall record of 10-3. They currently have a point differential of 11.8 as they are averaging 80.8 points per game while giving up 68.9 per contest. Penn State has an overall record of 11-2. They are averaging 80.4 points per game and surrendering 65.9, good for a point differential of 14.5.

Valuable Iowa Hawkeyes Betting Trends

The Iowa Hawkeyes are 9-4-0 against the spread this season

The Iowa Hawkeyes are 3-9-1 against the over/under this year

Important Penn State Nittany Lions Betting Trends

The Penn State Nittany Lions are 8-5-0 against the spread this season

The Penn State Nittany Lions are 8-5-0 against the over/under this year

Key Iowa Hawkeyes Injuries

12/16/19 G Jordan Bohannon Hip is out for season
12/06/19 F Patrick McCaffery Illness is out indefinitely
11/25/19 F Jack Nunge ACL is out for season

Key Penn State Nittany Lions Injuries

01/02/20 G Jamari Wheeler Undisclosed is probable

Player Spotlight

Luka Garza comes into this game averaging 21.6 points per contest while playing 29.7 minutes per night this year. He grabs 10.0 rebounds per contest and distributes 1.2 assists per game. His FG percentage is 46% while his free throw percentage is 64%. Joe Wieskamp averages 12.8 points per contest in 30.0 minutes per game. He averages 1.8 assists per game and 5.5 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 45% for the season while his free throw percentage is 79%.

Player Spotlight

Lamar Stevens scores 16.4 points per contest while playing 29.0 minutes per game. He hauls in 7.2 rebounds per contest and has 2.7 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is at 70%. Myreon Jones averages 14.5 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 29.3 minutes per game. He also brings in 3.0 rebounds per game and has 3.2 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is 87%.

Useful Team Statistics

Iowa averages 80.8 points per contest, which is 25th in D-1. Their average scoring margin is 11.8 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a unit, which has them ranked 87th. From 3-point territory they shoot 36%, which is good for 67th in the nation. They average 37.9 boards per contest and 18.1 assists per game, which ranks them 110th and 5th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 313th with 11.8 per game. The Hawkeyes allow 68.9 points per contest, which is 185th in the NCAA. They also surrender a 42% shooting percentage and a 31% average from 3-point range, ranking them 159th and 96th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 34.5 rebounds a game which ranks 149th, and they allow 13.7 assists per game which puts them in 254th place in the country. They force 14.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 178th in Division 1.

Useful Team Statistics

Penn State is 30th in the nation with 80.4 points per contest this season. They are 107th in the country in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 14.5. They shoot 32% from beyond the arc, which is good for 229th in the NCAA. They are 20th in D-1 in rebounding with 41.4 boards per contest and 40th in assists per game with 16.1. The Nittany Lions are 237th in turnovers per contest with 12.9. The Nittany Lions give up 65.9 points per game, which ranks them 115th in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 39% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 36th and 249th in those defensive statistics. They rank 122nd with 11.8 dimes allowed per game and 223rd with 36.1 boards surrendered per contest. The Nittany Lions are 278th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 15.8 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Hawkeyes have an offensive rating of 112.9, which is ranked 12th. They are 119th in college basketball in pace with 71.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 89th. As a unit they are 76th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shot attempts, ranking 193rd in D-1. Iowa is 331st in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Penn State is 299th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.9 times per 100 possessions. The Nittany Lions have an offensive rating of 108.9, which is ranked 53rd. They are 47th in D-1 in pace with 73.8 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 113th. As a unit they are 120th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 41% of their shot attempts, ranking 101st in the country.

Who will win tonight's Iowa/Penn State college basketball game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Iowa +3

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