Northwestern at Michigan State College Basketball Picks & Predictions 1/2/2019

Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Breslin Student Events Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Northwestern Wildcats head to Breslin Student Events Center to take on the Michigan State Spartans on Wednesday, January 2, 2019. The opening line for this game has Michigan State as 13.5 point favorites.

Northwestern heads into this matchup with a mark of 9-4. They currently have a point differential of 11.9 as they are averaging 73.5 points per contest while giving up 61.6 per game. Michigan State has an overall mark of 11-2. They are averaging 87.6 points per contest and giving up 68.4, which is a point differential of 19.2.

Valuable Northwestern Wildcats Betting Trends

The Northwestern Wildcats are 9-4-0 against the spread this season

The Northwestern Wildcats are 5-7-1 against the over/under this year

Important Michigan State Spartans Betting Trends

The Michigan State Spartans are 9-4-0 against the spread this season

The Michigan State Spartans are 7-6-0 against the over/under this year

Key Northwestern Wildcats Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Michigan State Spartans Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Vic Law comes into this game averaging 18.9 points per contest while playing 33.2 minutes per night this year. He grabs 6.5 rebounds per contest and distributes 2.8 assists per game. His FG percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage is 82%. Dererk Pardon averages 13.8 points per contest in 30.4 minutes per game. He averages 2.2 assists per game and 8.8 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 62% for the season while his free throw percentage is 63%.

Player Spotlight

Cassius Winston scores 17.5 points per contest while playing 30.6 minutes per game. He hauls in 2.4 rebounds per contest and has 7.5 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 85%. Nick Ward averages 16.1 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 21.8 minutes per game. He also brings in 6.3 rebounds per game and has 1.1 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 67% and his free throw percentage is 63%.

Useful Team Statistics

Northwestern averages 73.5 points per contest, which is 202nd in D-1. Their average scoring margin is 11.9 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a unit, which has them ranked 212th. From 3-point territory they shoot 34%, which is good for 173rd in the nation. They average 35.0 boards per contest and 16.1 assists per game, which ranks them 243rd and 54th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 293rd with 11.8 per game. The Wildcats allow 61.6 points per contest, which is 19th in the NCAA. They also surrender a 42% shooting percentage and a 28% average from 3-point range, ranking them 97th and 22nd in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 32.0 rebounds a game which ranks 55th, and they allow 12.1 assists per game which puts them in 111th place in the country. They force 14.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 212th in Division 1.

Useful Team Statistics

Michigan State is 9th in the nation with 87.6 points per contest this season. They are 13th in the country in shooting at 50%, while their average scoring margin is 19.2. They shoot 41% from beyond the arc, which is good for 9th in the NCAA. They are 6th in D-1 in rebounding with 43.9 boards per contest and 1st in assists per game with 21.4. The Spartans are 223rd in turnovers per contest with 12.8. The Spartans give up 68.4 points per game, which ranks them 104th in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 37% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 6th and 169th in those defensive statistics. They rank 72nd with 11.4 dimes allowed per game and 83rd with 32.9 boards surrendered per contest. The Spartans are 16th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 10.8 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Wildcats have an offensive rating of 107.8, which is ranked 117th. They are 304th in college basketball in pace with 67.6 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 196th. As a unit they are 166th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 41% of their shot attempts, ranking 118th in D-1. Northwestern is 277th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.9 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Michigan State is 273rd in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15 times per 100 possessions. The Spartans are 6th in the country in offensive rating with 119.5. In terms of pace they are 100th in Division 1 with 72.6 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 58% is 11th. As a team they are 13th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 60% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shots, ranking 201st in the nation.

Who will win tonight's Northwestern/Michigan State college basketball game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Northwestern +13.5

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