UMass vs Saint Louis Expert NCAA Basketball Picks 1/5/2020

Game: UMass Minutemen vs Saint Louis Billikens

Date: Sunday, January 5, 2020

Location: Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, MO

TV: NBCS

Odds/Point Spread: Saint Louis -11

Total/Over-Under: 138

The UMass Minutemen head to Chaifetz Arena to take on the Saint Louis Billikens on Sunday, January 5, 2020. The opening line for this game has Saint Louis as 11 point favorites.

UMass comes into this game with an overall record of 6-7. They currently have a point differential of 0.3 as they are averaging 71.2 points per game while giving up 70.9 per contest. Saint Louis has an overall record of 11-3. They are averaging 72.1 points per game and surrendering 64.6, good for a point differential of 7.4.

Valuable UMass Minutemen Betting Trends

The UMass Minutemen are 8-5-0 against the spread this season

The UMass Minutemen are 7-6-0 against the over/under this year

Important Saint Louis Billikens Betting Trends

The Saint Louis Billikens are 8-5-0 against the spread this season

The Saint Louis Billikens are 9-4-0 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
01/02/20 G John Buggs III ACL is out for season

Key Saint Louis Billikens Injuries

12/21/19 G Gibson Jimerson Foot is out for season
01/04/20 G Fred Thatch Jr. Leg is questionable Sunday vs Massachusetts

Player Spotlight

Carl Pierre comes into this game averaging 13.9 points per contest while playing 32.0 minutes per night this year. He grabs 3.7 rebounds per contest and distributes 1.5 assists per game. His FG percentage is 48% while his free throw percentage is 87%. Tre Mitchell averages 13.9 points per contest in 28.5 minutes per game. He averages 1.7 assists per game and 6.0 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 47% for the season while his free throw percentage is 63%.

Player Spotlight

Jordan Goodwin scores 15.1 points per contest while playing 33.9 minutes per game. He hauls in 11.1 rebounds per contest and has 3.1 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is at 52%. Hasahn French averages 13.0 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 29.7 minutes per game. He also brings in 9.8 rebounds per game and has 2.3 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 51% and his free throw percentage is 35%.

Useful Team Statistics

UMass averages 71.2 points per contest, which is 201st in D-1. Their average scoring margin is 0.3 and their shooting percentage is 43% as a unit, which has them ranked 209th. From 3-point territory they shoot 36%, which is good for 77th in the nation. They average 32.2 boards per contest and 13.2 assists per game, which ranks them 325th and 195th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 224th with 13.2 per game. The Minutemen allow 70.9 points per contest, which is 221st in the NCAA. They also surrender a 46% shooting percentage and a 31% average from 3-point range, ranking them 301st and 95th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 37.5 rebounds a game which ranks 278th, and they allow 15.2 assists per game which puts them in 311th place in the country. They force 15.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 271st in Division 1.

Useful Team Statistics

Saint Louis is 177th in the nation with 72.1 points per contest this season. They are 192nd in the country in shooting at 44%, while their average scoring margin is 7.4. They shoot 33% from beyond the arc, which is good for 179th in the NCAA. They are 25th in D-1 in rebounding with 41.1 boards per contest and 84th in assists per game with 14.9. The Billikens are 250th in turnovers per contest with 12.8. The Billikens give up 64.6 points per game, which ranks them 86th in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 40% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 75th and 278th in those defensive statistics. They rank 124th with 11.9 dimes allowed per game and 164th with 35.0 boards surrendered per contest. The Billikens are 209th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 14.7 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Minutemen have an offensive rating of 100.8, which is ranked 200th. They are 199th in college basketball in pace with 70 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 150th. As a unit they are 176th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 42% of their shot attempts, ranking 70th in D-1. UMass is 206th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.4 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Saint Louis is 283rd in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.2 times per 100 possessions. The Billikens are 156th in the country in offensive rating with 102.7. In terms of pace they are 189th in Division 1 with 70.1 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 49% is 231st. As a team they are 288th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 51% and they shoot 3-pointers on 31% of their shots, ranking 292nd in the nation.

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

Guy's Pick: Take UMass +11

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