Iona at St. John's College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/17/2017

Sunday, December 17, 2017

Madison Square Garden

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Iona Gaels travel to Madison Square Garden to play the St. John's Red Storm on Sunday, December 17, 2017. The opening line for this game has St. John's as 11.5 point favorites.

Iona heads into this matchup with a mark of 5-4. They currently have a point differential of 1.2 as they are averaging 77.4 points per contest while giving up 76.2 per game. St. John's has an overall record of 8-2. They are averaging 74.5 points per game and surrendering 62.2, good for a point differential of 12.3.

Valuable Iona Gaels Betting Trends

The Iona Gaels are 4-2 against the spread this season

The Iona Gaels are 2-4 against the over/under this year

Important St. John's Red Storm Betting Trends

The St. John's Red Storm are 4-4 against the spread this season

The St. John's Red Storm are 2-6 against the over/under this year

Key Iona Gaels Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key St. John's Red Storm Injuries

12/16/17 G Marcus LoVett Ankle is "?" Sunday vs Iona

Player Spotlight

Rickey McGill averages 13.9 points per game while playing 34.4 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 4.1 rebounds per game and dishes out 5.6 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 39% while his free throw percentage is at 77%. E.J. Crawford averages 12.6 points per game in 24.1 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.1 assists per contest and 2.8 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 50% for the year while his free throw percentage is 79%.

Player Spotlight

Shamorie Ponds averages 20.1 points per game while playing 35 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 6.4 rebounds per game and has 5.1 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 39% and his free throw percentage is at 88%. Bashir Ahmed averages 10.8 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 25.7 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.3 rebounds per contest and 0.8 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 38% and his free throw percentage is 62%.

Useful Team Statistics

Iona averages 77.4 points per contest this season, which ranks them 141st in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 1.2 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 178th. Behind the arc they shoot 37%, which is good for 100th in the country. They average 32.4 rebounds per game and 17.2 assists per game, which ranks them 319th and 33rd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 326th with 11.1 per game. The Gaels allow 76.2 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 260th in Division 1. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 38% average from behind the arc, ranking them 288th and 300th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 37.2 rebounds a game which ranks 267th and they give up 15.7 assists per contest, which puts them in 293rd place in college basketball. They force 13.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 143rd in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

St. John's is 200th in the country with 74.5 points per game this year. They are 293rd in D-1 in shooting at 42%, while their average scoring margin is 12.3. They shoot 34% from 3-point range, which is good for 226th in college basketball. They are 129th in the nation in rebounding with 37.6 boards per game, and 253rd in assists per contest with 12.8. The Red Storm are 248th in turnovers per game with 12.7. The Red Storm surrender 62.2 points per contest, which ranks them 22nd in the country. Their defense allows a 37% shooting percentage and a 32% average from 3-point range, ranking them 12th and 91st in those defensive statistics. They rank 45th with 10.9 assists allowed per contest and 290th with 38.0 rebounds surrendered per game. The Red Storm are 343rd in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 19.7 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Gaels are 110th in the nation in offensive rating with 109.2, and their defensive rating of 107.5 is ranked 285th. In terms of pace they are 193rd in the country with 70.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 114th. As a team they are 117th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 44% of their shots, ranking 56th in Division 1. Iona is 322nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.6 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 54%, which is 287th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

St. John's is 262nd in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 23.5 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 44%, which is 23rd in Division 1. The Red Storm are 12th in the nation in defensive rating with 86.4, and their offensive rating of 103.5 is ranked 208th. They are 148th in D-1 in pace with 72 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 48% is 287th. As a unit they are 270th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 52% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 205th in the country.

Who will win tonight's Iona/St. John's college basketball game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take St. John's -11.5

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