Ball State Cardinals vs Toledo Rockets Prediction, 3/5/2021 College Basketball Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Ball State Cardinals vs Toledo Rockets

Date: Friday, March 5, 2021

Location: Savage Arena in Toledo, OH

TV: ESPN3

Odds/Point Spread: Ball State (+12)

The Toledo Rockets (19-7) play the Ball State Cardinals (10-11) at Savage Arena on Friday. Ball State opens this game as 12-point dogs. The total is set at 154.

Ball State heads into this matchup with a win-loss record of 10-11 on the year. They have an average of 74.3 points per outing (106th in D-1) while hitting 44.6% from the field. The Cardinals are hitting 34.9% on shots beyond the perimeter (178 of 510) and 74.4% from the free throw line. As a unit, Ball State is pulling in 36.4 boards per game and has tallied 294 dimes this season, which ranks 156th in Division 1 in terms of passing the rock. They lose possession via turnover 14.4 times per contest and as a basketball team they commit 18.9 personal fouls every game. On the defensive end of the court, the Cardinals have forced 12.8 turnovers every game and they draw 18.0 fouls. They are relinquishing 30.3% on 3-point shots while they are 272nd in the nation in opponents PPG (74.1). The Cardinals are allowing and opponent field goal percentage of 42.7% (549 of 1,286) and they concede 37.3 boards per game as a team. They are currently ranked 134th in college hoops in allowing assists to their opponents with 259 conceded so far this season.

The Ball State Cardinals took the court against the Eastern Michigan Eagles and walked away with a win by a score of 100-65 in their last game. Ball State walked away from the contest having earned a 52.1% field goal percentage (37 of 71) and knocked down 11 out of their 30 shots from 3-point land. At the charity stripe, the Cardinals made 15 of their 16 shots for a rate of 93.8%. With regard to getting rebounds, they earned 44 with 13 of them being on the offensive end. They also recorded 22 assists in the matchup as well as forcing the other team into 10 turnovers and having 6 steals. Concerning defense, Ball State let their opponent shoot 36.7% from the floor on 22 of 60 shooting. Eastern Michigan recorded 11 assists and had 4 steals in this contest. On top of that, Eastern Michigan totaled 26 boards (7 offensive, 19 defensive) and added 2 blocks. Eastern Michigan finished the contest at 61.9% from the charity stripe by making 13 of 21 shots. They also converted 8 of 26 attempts from 3-point range.

K.J. Walton is a guy who was a major factor in this game. He walked away with 32 points on 13 out of 21 shooting. He played 29 mins and snagged 8 rebounds. Walton went 61.9% from the floor and also distributed 1 assist. Someone else that was a determining factor in the matchup for the Cardinals was Miryne Thomas. He snagged 5 rebounds in his 17 min played. He walked away from this one shooting 100.0% from the field in this matchup by shooting 5-of-5 (20 points). Overall, Thomas wasn't able to get an assist.

Toledo has a record of 19-7 this season. The Rockets are committing 15.2 fouls per game while shooting 78.8% from the free throw line. They are earning an assist 16.3 times per game (29th in college basketball) and they turn the ball over 11.0 times per game. Toledo has accounted for 2,107 pts on the campaign (81.0 per game) and they pull in 37.7 rebounds per game. As an offensive team, the Rockets are hitting on 45.6% from the floor, which ranks 99th in the country. The Rockets on the defensive end are ranked 215th in college basketball in PPG surrendered with 71.4. They are forcing 12.4 TO's every game and have let teams shoot 42.2% from the floor (122nd in college basketball). The Toledo defense allows 29.3% on 3-point attempts (194 of 661) and their opposition knocks down 72.3% of their free throw attempts. They concede 12.2 assists and 37.0 rebounds every game, which is 109th and 265th in those categories on the defensive end.

When they last played, the Toledo Rockets went home defeated by a final of 81-79 when they faced the Central Michigan Chippewas. The Rockets earned 27 defensive boards and 5 offensive rebounds totaling 32 for the matchup. They also coughed up the ball 4 times, while recording 4 steals in this contest. The Chippewas committed 23 fouls in the game which got the Rockets to the charity stripe for 23 shots. They were able to make 20 of the free throw tries for a rate of 87.0%. In regard to shooting from distance, Toledo made 9 of 23 attempts (39.1%). In all, the Rockets finished 25 for 57 from the floor which gave them a shooting percentage of 43.9%. The Rockets permitted the Chippewas to convert 28 of 59 attempts from the field which had them at 47.5% in the matchup. They went 35.7% from downtown by connecting on 10 of 28 and ended up shooting 15 of 18 at the free throw line (83.3%). With respect to rebounds, Toledo allowed Central Michigan to grab 33 in all (3 on the offensive side).

Ryan Rollins ended up being a major contributor for the Rockets for the game. He buried 5 out of 11 for this contest giving him a field goal percentage of 45.5%, and totaled 6 rebounds. Rollins recorded 17 points in his 34 minutes of playing time, but wasn't able to notch an assist. Another guy who was a determining factor for Toledo was Spencer Littleson. He accumulated no assists in 31 minutes played, and he converted 5 out of 8 from the floor. Littleson ended up shooting 62.5% from the field as well as totaling 16 points but no rebounds.

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

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Toledo (-12)

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