Marshall at Akron College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/15/2018

Saturday, December 15, 2018

James A. Rhodes Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Marshall Thundering Herd travel to James A. Rhodes Arena to play the Akron Zips on Saturday, December 15, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Akron as 4 point favorites.

Marshall heads into this matchup with a mark of 6-4. They currently have a point differential of 4.5 as they are averaging 84.1 points per contest while giving up 79.6 per game. Akron has an overall mark of 6-3. They are averaging 75.0 points per contest and giving up 60.0, which is a point differential of 15.0.

Valuable Marshall Thundering Herd Betting Trends

The Marshall Thundering Herd are 4-6-0 against the spread

The Marshall Thundering Herd are 6-4-0 against the over/under

Important Akron Zips Betting Trends

The Akron Zips are 5-3-0 against the spread

The Akron Zips are 3-5-0 against the over/under

Key Marshall Thundering Herd Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Akron Zips Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Jon Elmore comes into this contest averaging 20.8 points per game while playing 34.7 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 4.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 5.0 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 41% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 73%. C.J. Burks averages 18.5 points per game in 32.9 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3.2 assists per contest and 3.5 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 50% for the year while his free throw percentage is 74%.

Player Spotlight

Daniel Utomi averages 15.4 points per game while playing 31.8 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 6.8 rebounds per game and has 1.4 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is at 61%. Jimond Ivey averages 13.0 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 31.4 minutes per contest. He also averages 7.2 rebounds per contest and 3.2 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 52% and his free throw percentage is 72%.

Useful Team Statistics

Marshall averages 84.1 points per contest this season, which ranks them 25th in the NCAA. Their average scoring margin is 4.5 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 151st. Behind the arc they shoot 34% which is good for 190th in the nation. They average 35.3 rebounds per game and 16.1 assists per game, which ranks them 236th and 54th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 135th with 14.0 per game. The Thundering Herd allow 79.6 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 312th in the country. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the arc, ranking them 258th and 196th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 42.6 rebounds a game which ranks 344th and they give up 13.1 assists per contest, which puts them in 186th place in Division 1. They force 19.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 347th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Akron is 175th in the country with 75.0 points per game this year. They are 230th in Division 1 in shooting at 44%, while their average scoring margin is 15.0. They shoot 33% from 3-point range, which is good for 218th in the nation. They are 129th in the NCAA in rebounding with 37.7 boards per game, and 239th in assists per contest with 12.9. The Zips are 317th in turnovers per game with 11.2. The Zips surrender 60.0 points per contest, which ranks them 16th in D-1. Their defense allows a 39% shooting percentage and a 30% average from 3-point range, ranking them 39th and 48th in those defensive statistics. They rank 17th with 9.2 assists allowed per contest and 270th with 37.3 rebounds surrendered per game. The Zips are 169th in country in forcing turnovers with 13.9 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Thundering Herd are 181st in the nation in offensive rating with 104.6. In terms of pace they are 10th in the country with 79.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 135th. As a team they are 176th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 42% of their shots, ranking 90th in Division 1. Marshall is 226th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.5 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Akron is 300th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.2 times per 100 possessions. The Zips have an offensive rating of 109.6, which is ranked 98th. They are 286th in D-1 in pace with 68.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 161st. As a unit they are 172nd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 51% of their shot attempts, ranking 5th in the country.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Akron -4

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