Auburn at Kentucky Elite 8 Tips 3/31/2019
Sunday, March 31, 2019
Sprint Center
Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.
The Auburn Tigers travel to Sprint Center to play the Kentucky Wildcats on Sunday in the Elite 8. Auburn blew out North Carolina 97-80 in the Sweet 16 while Kentucky narrowly escaped against Houston by a score of 62-58. The opening line for this matchup has Kentucky as 2.5 point favorites.
Auburn comes into this game with an overall record of 29-9. They currently have a point differential of 11.2 as they are averaging 79.8 points per game while giving up 68.5 per contest. Kentucky has an overall record of 30-6. They are averaging 76.4 points per game and surrendering 64.5, good for a point differential of 11.8.
Valuable Auburn Tigers Betting Trends
The Auburn Tigers are 20-16-1 against the spread
The Auburn Tigers are 15-14-1 against the over/under
Important Kentucky Wildcats Betting Trends
The Kentucky Wildcats are 19-16-1 against the spread
The Kentucky Wildcats are 11-20-0 against the over/under
Key Auburn Tigers Injuries
03/29/19 F Chuma Okeke Knee is out indefinitely
Key Kentucky Wildcats Injuries
12/14/18 G Quade Green Transferred is out for season
Player Spotlight
Jared Harper averages 15.2 points per game in 32.8 minutes per contest. He averages 5.8 assists per contest and 2.5 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 40% for the year while his free throw percentage is 82%. Bryce Brown comes into this contest averaging 15.8 points per game while playing 31.8 minutes per night. He pulls down 2.1 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.9 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage is at 81%.
Player Spotlight
Tyler Herro averages 14.2 points per game and he sees the court an average of 32.5 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.5 rebounds per contest and 2.4 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is 94%. Keldon Johnson averages 13.5 points per game while playing 30.5 minutes per contest. He grabs 5.8 rebounds per game and has 1.6 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 71%.
Useful Team Statistics
The Tigers allow 68.5 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 91st in Division 1. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 163rd and 221st in those defensive categories. Opponents average 35.1 rebounds a game which ranks 196th, and they give up 12.1 assists per contest which puts them in 86th place in the NCAA. They force 17.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 346th in the nation. Auburn averages 79.8 points per contest this season, which ranks them 34th in the country. Their average scoring margin is 11.2 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 143rd. Behind the arc they shoot 38% which is good for 36th in D-1. They average 34.1 rebounds per game and 14.4 assists per contest, which ranks them 241st and 94th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 270th with 11.9 per game.
Useful Team Statistics
The Wildcats surrender 64.5 points per contest, which ranks them 28th in the NCAA. Their defense allows a 40% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 19th and 191st in those defensive statistics. They rank 40th with 11.1 assists allowed per contest, and 4th with 29.2 rebounds surrendered per game. The Wildcats are 124th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 12.4 per game. Kentucky is 78th in the country with 76.4 points per game this year. They are 27th in the D-1 in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 11.8. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 105th in the nation. They are 33rd in the country in rebounding with 38.6 boards per game and 155th in assists per contest with 13.6. The Wildcats are 216th in turnovers per game with 12.5.
Advanced Statistics
The Tigers are 10th in the nation in offensive rating with 114.2. In terms of pace they are 169th in the country with 69.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 41st. As a team they are 52nd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 49% of their shots, ranking 8th in Division 1. Auburn is 293rd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.6 times per 100 possessions.
Advanced Statistics
Kentucky is 203rd in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.8 times per 100 possessions. The Wildcats have an offensive rating of 112.6, which is ranked 21st. They are 260th in D-1 in pace with 67.6 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 83rd. As a unit they are 42nd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 30% of their shot attempts, ranking 343rd in the country.
Who will win tonight's Auburn/Kentucky college basketball game against the spread?
Josh's Pick: Take Kentucky -2.5
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