Northwestern Wildcats vs. Penn State Nittany Lions Free Pick - Game Analysis - Odds

Northwestern Wildcats vs. Penn State Nittany Lions Free Pick - Game Analysis - Odds

Rich Crew
Date: March 1, 6:30 pm
Location: Madison Square Garden
TV: FSN

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Penn State -5.5
Total: 132.5

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The Northwestern Wildcats (15-16) face the Penn State Nittany Lions (19-12) in the 2nd round of the Big 10 conference tournament game on Thursday, March 1, 2018, on the floor of Madison Square Garden in New York, New York at 6:30 PM. The NCAA betting board lists PSU as a 5.5point favorite over NW with the total line set at 132.5 points.
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In their last game, Northwestern was on the road where they lost to Iowa 77-70. The loss was the sixth straight for Northwestern and the team's third consecutive against the spread. The 147 points scored in the game sent OVER bettors to the windows for the third consecutive game. In the contest, Scottie Lindsey was the high scorer for the Wildcats picking up 32 points on ten of14 shooting hitting nine of his 11 three-point attempts, and he was the only player on the team to go for double figures. Jordan Bohannon was the top scorer for the Hawkeyes with 25 points on 7 of 14 shooting and four of five starters for the squad went for at least 12 points. Northwestern found themselves in a big hole after the first half trailing by 17 and for the game they gave up 17 offensive rebounds and only had nine. Northwestern finished the Big Ten schedule with a record of 6-12.
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Penn State was on the road in their latest, where they lost to Nebraska 76-64 as a +3 road underdog. The loss was the third consecutive for this squad, and the point spread loss was their second in a row. In the match, Tony Carr was the leading scorer for the Nittany Lions picking up 27 points on 9 of 23 shooting and two other players for the team went for at least 13 points. Isaac Copeland was the high scorer for the Cornhuskers with 17 points on 6 of 10 shooting, and he also had 12 rebounds. Penn State was outscored by 17 points in the first half scoring a weak 17 points. The shooting was their problem, and they finished with a 40.7 FG% while Nebraska had a healthy 49.1 FG%. Penn State finished the conference regular season schedule at an even 9-9.
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Northwestern ranks 281st in the nation in ppg and 40th in opponents’ ppg, and Penn State ranks 143rd in ppg and 48th in opponents’ ppg.
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These two teams split the two games against each other this season with each winning at home.
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This season Northwestern is 11-17 ATS with an O/U record of 11-17 and Penn State is 14-12-1 ATS with an O/U record of 13-14.
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<span style="font-size:16px;"><b><span style="color:#008000;">Get more details:</span></b> <a class="advblue" href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/ncaab/matchup/962661"&gt; Northwestern at Penn State Match-Up</a></span>
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<h2>
SAGARIN RATINGS<br />
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Northwestern: 80.04<br />
Penn State: 83.71
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<h3>
INJURY REPORT<br />
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<b>NORTHWESTERN </b>
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(!)[F] 02/27/2018 - Vic Law is out for season ( Foot )<br />
(!)[G] 02/26/2018 - Bryant McIntosh left last game, is "?" Thursday vs. Penn State ( Shoulder )<br />
[F] 02/26/2018 - Gavin Skelly left last game, is "?" Thursday vs. Penn State ( Undisclosed )<br />
[G] 02/17/2018 - Jordan Ash is out for season ( Lower Body )<br />
[F] 12/11/2017 - Rapolas Ivanauskas is out for season ( Shoulder )
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<b>PENN STATE </b>
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[F] 02/26/2018 - Mike Watkins is "?" Thursday vs. Northwestern ( Knee )
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<h2>
Northwestern at Penn State NCAAB Key Betting Trends<br />
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NW is 1-5 ATS in their last six games
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NW is 6-2 ATS in their previous eight games held at a neutral site
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NW has an Over record of 4-1 in their previous five games
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PSU is 7-3 ATS in their last ten games
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PSU is 12-3-1 ATS in their previous 16 games against a team with a losing record
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PSU has an Over record of 11-5 in their last 16 games
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Betting Angles<br />
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Penn State is 15-6-1 ATS in their last 22 games against Northwestern.
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The favorite is 4-0 ATS in the last four games between these teams.
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In the last five games between these teams, the Over record is 4-1.
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<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong><span style="color:#008000;">Search for the best odds:</span></strong> <a class="advblue" href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/ncaab/odds">Live College Basketball Lines</a></span>
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Northwestern at Penn State Prediction ATS 3/1/18

Northwestern has played well defensively for most of the season holding opponents to 66.5 points per game overall and 66.78 in Big 10 action, but they've shown cracks in recent games allowing three straight opponents to score 70 points. They meet a Penn State club which has struggled in past games offensively without getting quality minutes from Forward Mike Watkins who missed last game and is questionable today. The Nittany Lions scored 63 against Michigan and 64 against Nebraska, but in my opinion, the Wildcats defense is a step down from their last two opponents. Especially the play on the glass. On the other end of the court, Northwestern has some injury concerns, but all essential players should dress excluding forward Vic Law. Law was the leading scorer in their 70-61 victory home victory over PSU earlier this season, but the Wildcats have a deep bench and can make up for the loss. I believe that either team has a shot to score 70 here and if one does the total will be surpassed.

Free Pick: Take the OVER 131.5 (RC)
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