Mercer at Alabama College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/19/2017

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Von Braun Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Mercer Bears travel to Von Braun Center to play the Alabama Crimson Tide on Tuesday, December 19, 2017. The opening line for this game has Alabama as 8 point favorites.

Mercer comes into this game with an overall record of 6-5. They currently have a point differential of 11.8 as they are averaging 80.4 points per game while giving up 68.5 per contest. Alabama has an overall record of 7-3. They are averaging 79.3 points per game and surrendering 71.6, good for a point differential of 7.7.

Valuable Mercer Bears Betting Trends

The Mercer Bears are 2-4 against the spread this season

The Mercer Bears are 5-2 against the over/under this year

Important Alabama Crimson Tide Betting Trends

The Alabama Crimson Tide are 4-4 against the spread this season

The Alabama Crimson Tide are 4-5 against the over/under this year

Key Mercer Bears Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Alabama Crimson Tide Injuries

12/18/17 F Braxton Key Knee is probable Tuesday vs Mercer
11/09/17 G Ar'Mond Davis Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Stephon Jelks averages 10.5 points per game in 24.7 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.8 assists per contest and 7.2 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 62% for the year while his free throw percentage is 90%. Ria'n Holland averages 22.3 points per game while playing 29.8 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 3.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage is at 93%.

Player Spotlight

John Petty averages 12.3 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 29.8 minutes per contest. He also averages 2.4 rebounds per contest and 2.1 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is 46%. Collin Sexton averages 21.8 points per game while playing 29.3 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 3.6 rebounds per game and has 3.3 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 76%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Bears allow 68.5 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 104th in the nation. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 147th and 270th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 30.0 rebounds a game which ranks 17th, and they give up 14.5 assists per contest, which puts them in 260th place in the country. They force 13.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 159th in college basketball. Mercer averages 80.4 points per contest this season, which ranks them 79th in Division 1. Their average scoring margin is 11.8 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 73rd. Behind the arc they shoot 44% which is good for 5th in D-1. They average 34.5 rebounds per game and 16.1 assists per game, which ranks them 243rd and 68th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 291st with 12.1 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Crimson Tide surrender 71.6 points per contest, which ranks them 176th in the country. Their defense allows a 42% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 105th and 147th in those defensive statistics. They rank 124th with 12.4 assists allowed per contest, and 232nd with 36.1 rebounds surrendered per game. The Crimson Tide are 184th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 14.2 per game this season. Alabama is 98th in Division 1 with 79.3 points per game this year. They are 51st in the country in shooting at 49%, while their average scoring margin is 7.7. They shoot 38% from 3-point range, which is good for 88th in the nation. They are 146th in college basketball in rebounding with 37.2 boards per game and 180th in assists per contest with 14.0. The Crimson Tide are 106th in turnovers per game with 14.5.

Advanced Statistics

The Bears are 167th in the country in defensive rating with 99.6, and their offensive rating of 116.8 is ranked 23rd. They are 315th in college basketball in pace with 67.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 57% is 31st. As a unit they are 24th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 60% and they shoot 3-pointers on 41% of their shot attempts, ranking 97th in D-1. Mercer is 256th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 223rd in the country.

Advanced Statistics

Alabama is 118th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.4 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 47%, which is 70th in Division 1. The Crimson Tide are 129th in the nation in defensive rating with 97.2, and their offensive rating of 107.6 is ranked 130th. They are 70th in D-1 in pace with 73.7 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 55% is 63rd. As a unit they are 71st in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shot attempts, ranking 275th in the country.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Alabama -8

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