Minnesota at Arkansas College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/9/2017

Saturday, December 9, 2017

Bud Walton Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Minnesota Golden Gophers head to Bud Walton Arena to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday, December 9, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Arkansas as 3 point favorites.

Minnesota heads into this matchup with a mark of 8-2. They currently have a point differential of 15.4 as they are averaging 87.3 points per contest while giving up 71.9 per game. Arkansas has an overall record of 6-2. They are averaging 87.3 points per game and surrendering 74.8, good for a point differential of 12.5.

Valuable Minnesota Golden Gophers Betting Trends

The Minnesota Golden Gophers are 6-3 against the spread this season

The Minnesota Golden Gophers are 7-2 against the over/under this year

Important Arkansas Razorbacks Betting Trends

The Arkansas Razorbacks are 5-3 against the spread this season

The Arkansas Razorbacks are 5-3 against the over/under this year

Key Minnesota Golden Gophers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Arkansas Razorbacks Injuries

11/05/17 G Khalil Garland Medical is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Jordan Murphy averages 19.9 points per contest while playing 30.9 minutes per night this year. He grabs 12.8 rebounds per contest and distributes 1.3 assists per game. His FG percentage is 50% while his free throw percentage is 75%. Nate Mason averages 15.7 points per contest in 29.7 minutes per game this year. He averages 4.4 assists per game and 4 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 44% for the season while his free throw percentage is 77%.

Player Spotlight

Jaylen Barford scores 19.6 points per contest while playing 30.1 minutes per game this season. He hauls in 4.1 rebounds per contest and has 3.1 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 50% and his free throw percentage is at 69%. Daryl Macon averages 14.6 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 28.9 minutes per game. He also brings in 2 rebounds per game and has 3.3 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is 86%.

Useful Team Statistics

Minnesota averages 87.3 points per contest this year, which is 24th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 15.4 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a unit, which has them ranked 85th. From 3-point territory they shoot 37%, which is good for 98th in Division 1. They average 43.1 boards per contest and 17.9 assists per game, which ranks them 11th and 26th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 307th with 11.7 per game. The Golden Gophers allow 71.9 points per contest, which is 185th in the country. They also surrender a 40% shooting percentage and a 38% average from 3-point range, ranking them 68th and 281st in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 36.9 rebounds a game which ranks 248th, and they allow 12.7 assists per game which puts them in 152nd place in college basketball. They force 14.0 turnovers per game which ranks them 169th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Arkansas is 25th in the country with 87.3 points per contest this season. They are 62nd in the nation in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 12.5. They shoot 40% from beyond the arc, which is good for 40th in Division 1. They are 215th in the country in rebounding with 35.4 boards per contest and 94th in assists per game with 15.5. The Razorbacks are 311th in turnovers per contest with 11.5. The Razorbacks give up 74.8 points per game, which ranks them 230th in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 43% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 168th and 207th in those defensive statistics. They rank 178th with 13.1 dimes allowed per game and 172nd with 35.0 boards surrendered per contest. The Razorbacks are 292nd in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 16.4 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Golden Gophers are 107th in the country in defensive rating with 95.9, and their offensive rating of 116.4 is ranked 26th. They are 46th in college basketball in pace with 75 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 140th. As a unit they are 130th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 28% of their shot attempts, ranking 329th in D-1. Minnesota is 337th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.3 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 47%, which is 75th in the country.

Advanced Statistics

Arkansas is 332nd in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 19 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 187th in Division 1. The Razorbacks are 135th in the nation in defensive rating with 97.4, and their offensive rating of 113.7 is ranked 48th. They are 24th in D-1 in pace with 76.7 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 55% is 78th. As a unit they are 64th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 31% of their shot attempts, ranking 288th in the country.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Minnesota +3

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