South Dakota at UCLA College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/19/2017

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Pauley Pavilion

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The South Dakota Coyotes head to Pauley Pavilion to take on the UCLA Bruins on Tuesday, December 19, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has UCLA as 8 point favorites.

South Dakota heads into this matchup with a mark of 11-3. They currently have a point differential of 14.3 as they are averaging 81.9 points per contest while giving up 67.6 per game. UCLA has an overall mark of 7-3. They are averaging 82.6 points per contest and giving up 75.6, which is a point differential of 7.0.

Valuable South Dakota Coyotes Betting Trends

The South Dakota Coyotes are 7-3 against the spread this season

The South Dakota Coyotes are 5-5 against the over/under this year

Important UCLA Bruins Betting Trends

The UCLA Bruins are 3-7 against the spread this season

The UCLA Bruins are 5-5 against the over/under this year

Key South Dakota Coyotes Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key UCLA Bruins Injuries

12/04/17 G LiAngelo Ball Left Team is out for season
11/08/17 F Cody Riley Suspension is out indefinitely
11/08/17 F Jalen Hill Suspension is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Matt Mooney averages 17.2 points per contest while playing 30.2 minutes per night this year. He grabs 3.5 rebounds per contest and distributes 3.4 assists per game. His FG percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage is 82%. Tyler Hagedorn averages 14.6 points per contest in 24.6 minutes per game this year. He averages 1.1 assists per game and 5.2 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 46% for the season while his free throw percentage is 85%.

Player Spotlight

Aaron Holiday scores 17.6 points per contest while playing 36.3 minutes per game this season. He hauls in 3.4 rebounds per contest and has 5.4 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 78%. Thomas Welsh averages 12.6 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 32.6 minutes per game. He also brings in 10.6 rebounds per game and has 1.6 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 86%.

Useful Team Statistics

South Dakota averages 81.9 points per contest this year, which is 57th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 14.3 and their shooting percentage is 49% as a unit, which has them ranked 46th. From 3-point territory they shoot 37%, which is good for 103rd in Division 1. They average 37.6 boards per contest and 14.7 assists per game, which ranks them 121st and 136th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 257th with 12.6 per game. The Coyotes allow 67.6 points per contest, which is 91st in the country. They also surrender a 41% shooting percentage and a 32% average from 3-point range, ranking them 71st and 81st in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 33.1 rebounds a game which ranks 105th, and they allow 11.4 assists per game which puts them in 63rd place in college basketball. They force 15.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 270th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

UCLA is 48th in the country with 82.6 points per contest this season. They are 95th in the nation in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 7.0. They shoot 35% from beyond the arc, which is good for 171st in Division 1. They are 16th in the country in rebounding with 41.7 boards per contest and 120th in assists per game with 15.1. The Bruins are 187th in turnovers per contest with 13.5. The Bruins give up 75.6 points per game, which ranks them 247th in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 42% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 125th and 258th in those defensive statistics. They rank 195th with 13.4 dimes allowed per game and 194th with 35.3 boards surrendered per contest. The Bruins are 39th in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 11.7 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Coyotes are 72nd in the nation in offensive rating with 112, and their defensive rating of 92.5 is ranked 50th. In terms of pace they are 88th in the country with 73.1 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 55% is 80th. As a team they are 64th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 31% of their shots, ranking 312th in Division 1. South Dakota is 271st in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 18.7 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 46%, which is 56th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

UCLA is 251st in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.7 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 49%, which is 158th in Division 1. The Bruins are 159th in the nation in defensive rating with 99.2, and their offensive rating of 108.4 is ranked 117th. They are 51st in D-1 in pace with 74.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 136th. As a unit they are 154th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shot attempts, ranking 278th in the country.

Who will win tonight's South Dakota/UCLA college basketball game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take South Dakota +8

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