Boise State Broncos vs Houston Cougars Prediction, 11/27/2020 College Basketball Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Boise State Broncos vs Houston Cougars

Date: Friday, November 27, 2020

Location: Fertitta Center in Houston, TX

TV: ESPN+

Odds/Point Spread: Boise State (+13.5)

The Boise State Broncos (20-12 last season) travel to Fertitta Center on Friday where they'll take on the Houston Cougars (23-8 last year). Houston opens this contest as 13.5-point favorites. The O/U has been set at 143.

Boise State will enter this game after finishing with a mark of 20-12 last year. They lost possession via turnover 12.5 times per contest and as a group committed 17.2 fouls every game. As a group, Boise State snagged 34.8 boards per contest and earned 416 dimes last season, which ranked 160th in the country in terms of passing. The Broncos shot 34.4% on three-point attempts (269 of 781) and 75.1% from the free throw line. They had an average of 75.9 points per outing (50th in the nation) while connecting on 44.7% from the floor. On the defensive end, the Broncos forced their opponents into 13.8 turnovers per game while drawing 20.0 personal fouls. They were ranked 106th in college basketball in giving up assists with 365 surrendered last year. The Broncos defense gave up an opponent shooting percentage of 44.7% (814 of 1,819) and they relinquished 32.8 rebounds per contest as a basketball team. They gave up 29.9% on 3-point attempts and they were 181st in college hoops in PPG allowed (69.5).

The Boise State Broncos stepped onto the hardwood against the San Diego State Aztecs and went home with a loss by a final score of 81-68 in their last contest. Boise State walked away from the game with a 39.3% FG percentage (22 of 56) and made 9 of their 27 3-pointers. At the free throw line, the Broncos buried 15 of their 19 attempts for a rate of 78.9%. With respect to getting rebounds, they earned 31 with 12 of them being on the offensive end. They also distributed 12 assists for this game while getting 3 steals and 2 blocks. When it comes to the defense, Boise State let their opponent shoot 39.3% from the field on 22 of 56. San Diego State totaled 13 assists and 6 steals for this game. On top of that, the Aztecs had 28 rebounds (7 offensive, 21 defensive) and added 2 blocked shots. San Diego State finished the game at 85.7% at the charity stripe by burying 12 of their 14 attempts. They also made 15 of 36 tries from beyond the perimeter.

Justinian Jessup is a player who came through in the game. He was able to score 10 points on 3 of 10 shooting. He saw the court for 35 mins and also snagged 5 boards. Jessup finished the game shooting 30.0% from the floor and distributed 2 assists. An additional guy that played big minutes in the game for the Broncos was Derrick Alston. He totaled 5 boards and had 3 dimes. He walked away from this one shooting 23.5% from the field in this matchup via 4-of-17 (12 points). When this game wrapped up, Alston played 34 minutes.

Houston had a record of 23-8 last year. As an offensive unit, the Cougars hit 42.2% from the field, which ranked them 257th in D-1. Houston accumulated 2,241 points throughout last year (72.3 per contest) and they collected 41.5 boards per game. They earned an assist 12.9 times per game (195th in college basketball) and they coughed up possession 11.9 times per contest. The Cougars committed 19.6 fouls per game and they shot 73.0% from the free throw line. The Cougars on the defensive side of the court were 13th in college basketball in points given up per game with 62.1. They surrendered 11.0 assists and 32.0 rebounds per contest, which was ranked 58th and 43rd in those categories. The Houston defense surrendered 28.6% from downtown (187 of 653) and their opponents knocked down 69.0% of their free throw attempts. They forced their opponents into 12.2 TO's every game and allowed teams to shoot 38.3% from the field (7th in D-1).

The last time they took the hardwood, the Houston Cougars went home victorious with a score of 89-45 against the Lamar Cardinals. The Cougars pulled down 29 defensive boards and 18 offensive rebounds totaling 47 for the matchup. They also rejected 8 tries while recording 12 steals in this game. The Cardinals were called for 19 fouls for the game which got the Cougars to the charity stripe for a total of 21 attempts. They were able to convert 16 of those for a clip of 76.2%. In reference to 3-pointers, Houston made 13 of 33 attempts (39.4%). When all was said and done, the Cougars walked away from this one shooting 30 for 72 from the field which gave them a percentage of 41.7%. The Cougars allowed the Cardinals to bury 15 of their 50 attempts from the field which gave them a percentage of 30.0% for the game. They finished 7.7% from 3-point land by shooting 1 of 13 and ended up shooting 14 of 22 from the free throw line (63.6%). With respect to how they attacked the glass, Houston allowed Lamar to snag 28 in total (7 on the offensive side).

Marcus Sasser ended up playing a lot for the Cougars in this matchup. He knocked down 9 of 11 in this game giving him a field goal percentage of 81.8%, which got him 25 points. Sasser pulled down 2 rebounds in his 27 mins and totaled 3 dimes in the matchup. One more player that was pivotal for Houston was Quentin Grimes. He totaled 8 points in 26 minutes played by way of 3 of 15 from the floor in this matchup. Grimes wrapped this one up going 20.0% from the field while earning 4 assists and 7 rebounds.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Boise State (+13.5)

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