Western Carolina at Iowa College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/18/2018

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Carver-Hawkeye Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Western Carolina Catamounts travel to Carver-Hawkeye Arena to play the Iowa Hawkeyes on Tuesday, December 18, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Iowa as 23.5 point favorites.

Western Carolina comes into this game with an overall record of 3-9. They currently have a point differential of -8.4 as they are averaging 70.7 points per game while giving up 79.1 per contest. Iowa has an overall mark of 8-2. They are averaging 82.1 points per contest and giving up 73.2, which is a point differential of 8.9.

Valuable Western Carolina Catamounts Betting Trends

The Western Carolina Catamounts are 6-5-0 against the spread

The Western Carolina Catamounts are 6-5-0 against the over/under

Important Iowa Hawkeyes Betting Trends

The Iowa Hawkeyes are 4-6-0 against the spread

The Iowa Hawkeyes are 5-5-0 against the over/under

Key Western Carolina Catamounts Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Iowa Hawkeyes Injuries

11/11/18 G CJ Fredrick Redshirt is out for season
11/11/18 F Jack Nunge Redshirt is out for season

Player Spotlight

Carlos Dotson comes into this contest averaging 13.3 points per game while playing 26.9 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 9.0 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.9 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 59% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 50%. Matt Halvorsen averages 12.8 points per game in 31.6 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.8 assists per contest and 3.8 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 39% for the year while his free throw percentage is 83%.

Player Spotlight

Tyler Cook averages 16.6 points per game while playing 31.0 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 8.9 rebounds per game and has 2.8 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 59% and his free throw percentage is at 69%. Luka Garza averages 12.5 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 22.6 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.8 rebounds per contest and 1.1 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 51% and his free throw percentage is 85%.

Useful Team Statistics

Western Carolina averages 70.7 points per contest this season, which ranks them 271st in the NCAA. Their average scoring margin is -8.4 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 182nd. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 144th in the nation. They average 36.8 rebounds per game and 12.5 assists per game, which ranks them 164th and 255th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 1st with 19.2 per game. The Catamounts allow 79.1 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 310th in the country. They also allow a 48% shooting percentage and a 32% average from behind the arc, ranking them 322nd and 125th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 32.8 rebounds a game which ranks 78th and they give up 12.6 assists per contest, which puts them in 148th place in Division 1. They force 11.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 42nd in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Iowa is 42nd in the country with 82.1 points per game this year. They are 125th in Division 1 in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 8.9. They shoot 34% from 3-point range, which is good for 186th in the nation. They are 91st in the NCAA in rebounding with 38.5 boards per game, and 105th in assists per contest with 14.9. The Hawkeyes are 133rd in turnovers per game with 14.1. The Hawkeyes surrender 73.2 points per contest, which ranks them 222nd in D-1. Their defense allows a 44% shooting percentage and a 29% average from 3-point range, ranking them 195th and 34th in those defensive statistics. They rank 289th with 15.0 assists allowed per contest and 122nd with 33.9 rebounds surrendered per game. The Hawkeyes are 126th in country in forcing turnovers with 13.3 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Catamounts have an offensive rating of 96.5, which is ranked 305th. They are 139th in college basketball in pace with 71.8 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 124th. As a unit they are 177th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 47% of their shot attempts, ranking 18th in D-1. Western Carolina is 2nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 22.9 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Iowa is 145th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.8 times per 100 possessions. The Hawkeyes are 51st in the country in offensive rating with 112.6. In terms of pace they are 100th in Division 1 with 72.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 118th. As a team they are 30th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 41% of their shots, ranking 115th in the nation.

Who will win tonight's Western Carolina/Iowa college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Iowa -23.5

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