North Carolina vs Gonzaga Expert NCAA Basketball Picks Against the Spread 12/18/2019

Game: North Carolina Tar Heels vs Gonzaga Bulldogs

Date: Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Location: McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, WA

TV: ESPN2

Odds/Point Spread: Gonzaga -6.5

Total/Over-Under: 134

The North Carolina Tar Heels travel to McCarthey Athletic Center to play the Gonzaga Bulldogs on Wednesday, December 18, 2019. The opening line for this matchup has Gonzaga as 6.5 point favorites.

North Carolina heads into this matchup with a mark of 6-4. They currently have a point differential of 2.3 as they are averaging 68.4 points per contest while giving up 66.1 per game. Gonzaga has an overall record of 11-1. They are averaging 85.8 points per game and surrendering 66.3, good for a point differential of 19.5.

Valuable North Carolina Tar Heels Betting Trends

The North Carolina Tar Heels are 2-8-0 against the spread

The North Carolina Tar Heels are 1-9-0 against the over/under

Important Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Trends

The Gonzaga Bulldogs are 7-4-1 against the spread

The Gonzaga Bulldogs are 9-3-0 against the over/under

Key North Carolina Tar Heels Injuries

12/16/19 F Sterling Manley Knee is out for season
12/15/19 G Cole Anthony Knee is out indefinitely
12/15/19 G Rechon Black Foot is questionable

Key Gonzaga Bulldogs Injuries

12/14/19 F Killian Tillie Ankle injured last game, is questionable
11/18/19 G Brock Ravet Personal is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Armando Bacot comes into this contest averaging 10.3 points per game while playing 21.5 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 8.6 rebounds per game and dishes out 0.5 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 52% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 55%. Garrison Brooks averages 12.1 points per game in 33.1 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.7 assists per contest and 8.5 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 54% for the year while his free throw percentage is 69%.

Player Spotlight

Filip Petrusev averages 15.8 points per game while playing 26.7 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 8.4 rebounds per game and has 1.1 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 52% and his free throw percentage is at 67%. Corey Kispert averages 14.1 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 32.6 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.3 rebounds per contest and 1.8 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 79%.

Useful Team Statistics

North Carolina averages 68.4 points per contest this season, which ranks them 255th in the NCAA. Their average scoring margin is 2.3 and their shooting percentage is 40% as a team, which has them ranked 316th. Behind the arc they shoot 29% which is good for 313th in the nation. They average 46.3 rebounds per game and 13.4 assists per game, which ranks them 1st and 170th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 233rd with 12.9 per game. The Tar Heels allow 66.1 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 125th in the country. They also allow a 38% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the arc, ranking them 28th and 215th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 35.0 rebounds a game which ranks 164th and they give up 13.4 assists per contest, which puts them in 246th place in Division 1. They force 11.0 turnovers per game which ranks them 15th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Gonzaga is 4th in the country with 85.8 points per game this year. They are 14th in Division 1 in shooting at 50%, while their average scoring margin is 19.5. They shoot 38% from 3-point range, which is good for 35th in the nation. They are 18th in the NCAA in rebounding with 41.9 boards per game, and 13th in assists per contest with 17.3. The Bulldogs are 324th in turnovers per game with 11.3. The Bulldogs surrender 66.3 points per contest, which ranks them 128th in D-1. Their defense allows a 41% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 131st and 239th in those defensive statistics. They rank 139th with 11.8 assists allowed per contest and 73rd with 32.4 rebounds surrendered per game. The Bulldogs are 184th in country in forcing turnovers with 14.3 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Tar Heels are 257th in the nation in offensive rating with 97.6. In terms of pace they are 192nd in the country with 70.1 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 44% is 331st. As a team they are 332nd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 47% and they shoot 3-pointers on 30% of their shots, ranking 307th in Division 1. North Carolina is 280th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.2 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Gonzaga is 342nd in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.3 times per 100 possessions. The Bulldogs are 3rd in the country in offensive rating with 117.6. In terms of pace they are 105th in Division 1 with 72.2 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 56% is 27th. As a team they are 33rd in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shots, ranking 263rd in the nation.

Who will win tonight's North Carolina/Gonzaga college basketball game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Gonzaga -6.5

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