Samford at Tennessee College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/19/2018

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Thompson-Boling Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Samford Bulldogs head to Thompson-Boling Arena to take on the Tennessee Volunteers on Wednesday, December 19, 2018. The opening line for this game has Tennessee as 22.5 point favorites.

Samford heads into this matchup with a mark of 10-2. They currently have a point differential of 10.1 as they are averaging 77.4 points per contest while giving up 67.3 per game. Tennessee has an overall record of 8-1. They are averaging 84.9 points per game and surrendering 67.8, good for a point differential of 17.1.

Valuable Samford Bulldogs Betting Trends

The Samford Bulldogs are 10-1-0 against the spread this season

The Samford Bulldogs are 3-6-2 against the over/under this year

Important Tennessee Volunteers Betting Trends

The Tennessee Volunteers are 4-3-1 against the spread this season

The Tennessee Volunteers are 4-4-0 against the over/under this year

Key Samford Bulldogs Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Tennessee Volunteers Injuries

12/18/18 G Lamonte Turner Shoulder is questionable Wednesday vs Samford
11/09/18 F Zach Kent Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Josh Sharkey comes into this game averaging 15.5 points per contest while playing 33.5 minutes per night this year. He grabs 3.3 rebounds per contest and distributes 5.9 assists per game. His FG percentage is 57% while his free throw percentage is 75%. Ruben Guerrero averages 14.4 points per contest in 30.4 minutes per game. He averages 0.7 assists per game and 8.3 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 65% for the season while his free throw percentage is 61%.

Player Spotlight

Grant Williams scores 19.8 points per contest while playing 31.9 minutes per game. He hauls in 8.7 rebounds per contest and has 4.7 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 57% and his free throw percentage is at 80%. Admiral Schofield averages 19.1 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 32.6 minutes per game. He also brings in 6.6 rebounds per game and has 3.0 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 71%.

Useful Team Statistics

Samford averages 77.4 points per contest, which is 113th in D-1. Their average scoring margin is 10.1 and their shooting percentage is 49% as a unit, which has them ranked 39th. From 3-point territory they shoot 40%, which is good for 22nd in the nation. They average 38.4 boards per contest and 13.2 assists per game, which ranks them 93rd and 223rd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 72nd with 15.1 per game. The Bulldogs allow 67.3 points per contest, which is 79th in the NCAA. They also surrender a 37% shooting percentage and a 31% average from 3-point range, ranking them 10th and 88th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 36.3 rebounds a game which ranks 237th, and they allow 12.3 assists per game which puts them in 124th place in the country. They force 13.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 171st in Division 1.

Useful Team Statistics

Tennessee is 20th in the nation with 84.9 points per contest this season. They are 38th in the country in shooting at 49%, while their average scoring margin is 17.1. They shoot 35% from beyond the arc, which is good for 152nd in the NCAA. They are 20th in D-1 in rebounding with 42.0 boards per contest and 2nd in assists per game with 21.0. The Volunteers are 247th in turnovers per contest with 12.6. The Volunteers give up 67.8 points per game, which ranks them 90th in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 38% shooting percentage and a 30% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 13th and 57th in those defensive statistics. They rank 100th with 11.9 dimes allowed per game and 209th with 35.8 boards surrendered per contest. The Volunteers are 183rd in the nation in forcing turnovers with 14.1 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Bulldogs are 128th in the nation in offensive rating with 107.2. In terms of pace they are 191st in the country with 70.7 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 55% is 54th. As a team they are 53rd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shots, ranking 306th in Division 1. Samford is 58th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 18.5 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Tennessee is 281st in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.7 times per 100 possessions. The Volunteers have an offensive rating of 115.1, which is ranked 26th. They are 108th in D-1 in pace with 72.8 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 55% is 66th. As a unit they are 48th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 258th in the country.

Who will win tonight's Samford/Tennessee college basketball game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Samford +22.5

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