Youngstown State Penguins vs Northern Kentucky Norse Prediction, 12/19/2020 College Basketball Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Youngstown State Penguins vs Northern Kentucky Norse

Date: Saturday, December 19, 2020

Location: BB&T Arena in Highland Heights, KY

TV: ESPN3

Odds/Point Spread: Youngstown State (+1.5)

The Youngstown State Penguins (3-0) are headed to BB&T Arena on Saturday where they'll meet the Northern Kentucky Norse (2-3). The spread on this game has Northern Kentucky as 1.5-point favorites. The O/U opens at 143.

Youngstown State will take the court with a win-loss record of 3-0 this season. The Penguins are connecting on 28.0% on three-point shots (21 of 75) and 64.9% from the free throw line. They are averaging 77.0 points per contest (119th in D-1) while connecting on 42.0% from the field. They lose possession by turning the ball over 10.0 times per game and as a team they are committing 15.0 fouls per game. As a team, Youngstown State is pulling in 36.7 rebounds per contest and has earned 37 assists this year, which ranks 289th in the nation in terms of passing. When they are on defense, the Penguins are forcing 22.3 turnovers per contest while drawing 20.3 fouls. The Penguins defensively are allowing an opponent shooting percentage of 42.8% (65 of 152) and they surrender 35.3 rebounds per game as a group. They are 28th in college hoops in allowing assists to the opposition with 31 surrendered for the season. They are giving up 34.2% on 3-point shots while they are 39th in D-1 in opponents points per game (61.0).

The Youngstown State Penguins took the court against the West Virginia Tech Golden Bears and went home with a win by a final score of 80-66 in their last contest. Youngstown State finished the game having earned a 43.3% field goal percentage (26 out of 60) and knocked down 5 of 22 three-point shots. At the free throw line, the Penguins made 23 of 32 attempts for a rate of 71.9%. In regard to hauling in boards, they compiled 35 with 16 of them being of the offensive sort. They also recorded 12 assists in the game in addition to earning 10 steals and 2 blocks. In relation to the defense, Youngstown State allowed the other team to shoot 43.3% from the field on 26 of 60. West Virginia Tech earned 12 assists and 4 steals in this contest. Moreover, the Golden Bears grabbed 24 rebounds (6 offensive, 18 defensive) and added 2 blocked shots. West Virginia Tech finished the game shooting 75.0% when shooting free throws by burying 15 of 20 attempts. They buried 9 of their 21 tries from beyond the arc.

Shemar Rathan-Mayes is one player who was a major contributor for the contest. He notched 18 points on 4 of 12 shooting. He played for 33 mins played and also snagged 3 rebounds. Rathan-Mayes walked away from this one shooting 33.3% from the field and dished out 3 assists. Someone else that was a factor in the game for the Penguins was Darius Quisenberry. He totaled 4 rebounds and also totaled 5 assists. He ended up going 35.3% from the floor for this game by connecting on 6-of-17 (21 points). When the final whistle was blown, Quisenberry was on the hardwood for 31 min.

Northern Kentucky has a mark of 2-3 this season. The Norse commit 16.2 fouls per game and they go 60.8% from the charity stripe. They are dishing out assists 12.0 times per contest (258th in D-1) and they turn the ball over 13.4 times per game. Northern Kentucky has earned 353 pts so far this season (70.6 per game) and they snag 36.6 boards per game. In terms of offensive execution, the Norse are connecting on 41.0% from the floor, which has them ranked 292nd in the country. The Norse on defense are ranked 253rd in the nation in points per game surrendered with 75.0. They have conceded 16.4 assists and 37.2 rebounds every game, ranking them 294th and 227th in Division 1. The Northern Kentucky defense concedes 34.0% on shots from beyond the arc (33 of 97) and their opponents are converting on 61.7% of their free throw attempts. They have forced 15.6 turnovers per game and allow teams to shoot 50.2% from the floor (316th in Division 1).

In their last game, the Northern Kentucky Norse took a defeat with a final score of 92-73 against the Kent State Golden Flashes. The Norse pulled down 17 defensive rebounds and 13 offensive rebounds totaling 30 in the matchup. They also turned away 2 shots while getting 12 steals for the contest. The Golden Flashes had 13 fouls in the game which took the Norse to the charity stripe for 15 shots. They were able to bury 12 of them for a percentage of 80.0%. When discussing shooting from downtown, Northern Kentucky made 7 of their 30 tries (23.3%). When all was said and done, the Norse finished shooting 27 out of 72 from the field which had them sitting at 37.5%. The Norse permitted the Golden Flashes to knock down 37 out of their 67 tries from the floor which had them shooting 55.2% in this matchup. They went 45.8% from beyond the arc by going 11 of 24 and finished the game at 7 of 8 from the free throw line (87.5%). When it comes to rebounding, Northern Kentucky permitted Kent State to collect 33 overall (9 on the offensive glass).

Trevon Faulkner saw a lot of time on the hardwood for the Norse for this game. He buried 10 of 20 for the matchup for a field goal percentage of 50.0%, which earned him 28 points. Faulkner grabbed 4 boards in his 40 minutes and earned 3 dimes in the game. An additional guy that ended up coming through for Northern Kentucky was David Bohm. He walked away with 19 points in 28 minutes played by way of 7 out of 15 from the floor for the matchup. Bohm walked away from this one going 46.7% from the field and also contributing 2 assists and 2 rebounds.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Youngstown State (+1.5)

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