Houston Baptist at Michigan State College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/18/2017

Monday, December 18, 2017

Breslin Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Houston Baptist Huskies travel to Breslin Center to play the Michigan State Spartans on Monday, December 18, 2017.

Houston Baptist heads into this matchup with a mark of 4-7. They currently have a point differential of 1.2 as they are averaging 83.5 points per contest while giving up 82.4 per game. Michigan State has an overall record of 10-1. They are averaging 80.7 points per game and surrendering 62.4, good for a point differential of 18.4.

Valuable Houston Baptist Huskies Betting Trends

The Houston Baptist Huskies are 1-1 against the spread this season

The Houston Baptist Huskies are 2-0 against the over/under this year

Important Michigan State Spartans Betting Trends

The Michigan State Spartans are 6-5 against the spread this season

The Michigan State Spartans are 5-5 against the over/under this year

Key Houston Baptist Huskies Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Michigan State Spartans Injuries

11/08/17 G Kyle Ahrens Foot is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Josh Ibarra averages 16 points per game while playing 26.6 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 10 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 44% while his free throw percentage is at 61%. David Caraher averages 15.2 points per game in 30.4 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.2 assists per contest and 6.7 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 49% for the year while his free throw percentage is 68%.

Player Spotlight

Miles Bridges averages 15.6 points per game while playing 28.1 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 6.9 rebounds per game and has 2.2 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is at 90%. Nick Ward averages 13.7 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 17.6 minutes per contest. He also averages 6.1 rebounds per contest and 0.5 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 64% and his free throw percentage is 64%.

Useful Team Statistics

Houston Baptist averages 83.5 points per contest this season, which ranks them 40th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 1.2 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 175th. Behind the arc they shoot 32%, which is good for 289th in the country. They average 42.1 rebounds per game and 16.5 assists per game, which ranks them 15th and 59th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 202nd with 13.4 per game. The Huskies allow 82.4 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 327th in Division 1. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 38% average from behind the arc, ranking them 207th and 283rd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 35.5 rebounds a game which ranks 207th and they give up 15.9 assists per contest, which puts them in 302nd place in college basketball. They force 14.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 221st in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Michigan State is 76th in the country with 80.7 points per game this year. They are 45th in D-1 in shooting at 49%, while their average scoring margin is 18.4. They shoot 39% from 3-point range, which is good for 67th in college basketball. They are 6th in the nation in rebounding with 43.8 boards per game, and 15th in assists per contest with 18.7. The Spartans are 103rd in turnovers per game with 14.6. The Spartans surrender 62.4 points per contest, which ranks them 19th in the country. Their defense allows a 33% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 1st and 251st in those defensive statistics. They rank 79th with 11.6 assists allowed per contest and 58th with 31.7 rebounds surrendered per game. The Spartans are 41st in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 11.7 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Huskies are 129th in the nation in offensive rating with 107.7, and their defensive rating of 106.2 is ranked 273rd. In terms of pace they are 19th in the country with 76.7 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 50% is 244th. As a team they are 271st in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 52% and they shoot 3-pointers on 29% of their shots, ranking 325th in Division 1. Houston Baptist is 309th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.9 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 273rd in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Michigan State is 114th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.3 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 40%, which is 2nd in Division 1. The Spartans are 20th in the nation in defensive rating with 88.3, and their offensive rating of 114.3 is ranked 45th. They are 201st in D-1 in pace with 70.6 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 56% is 52nd. As a unit they are 51st in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shot attempts, ranking 251st in the country.

Who will win tonight's Houston Baptist/Michigan State college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Michigan State

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Tony Sink