In their final home game of the season, the Green Bay Phoenix (10-18, 5-10 Hor) host the UIC Flames (15-12, 10-4 Hor) at Kress Events Center. The game gets underway at 9 p.m. ET on Friday, February 16, 2018.
The Over/Under (O/U) for the game opened at 146.5 points with UIC set as a 3-point favorite.
UIC Flames vs. Green Bay Phoenix Free Prediction
The Flames are trying to rebound after their 86-78 loss to the Cleveland State Vikings in their last contest. Cleveland State’s turnover percentage was their largest advantage over UIC. The Vikings had a rate of 15.5 (better than their season average of 17.5), while the Flames posted a mark of 19.3. UIC’s Dikembe Dixson had a solid outing, putting up 13 points and six rebounds.
In the Phoenix’s last matchup, they fell to the Northern Kentucky Norse, 86-80. Making free throws was one of Northern Kentucky’s biggest strengths. They were 19-20 (95.0 percent), while the Phoenix were 17-22 (77.3 percent). Green Bay’s Sandy Cohen III recorded 18 points and seven rebounds in the contest.
The inefficient offense of Green Bay (285th in the NCAA with an offensive efficiency of 100.5) will go head-to-head against the stingy defense of UIC (58th in the nation with a defensive efficiency of 98.4). The Flames should have the edge on that end of the court.
UIC comes into the contest with records of 15-12 straight up (SU) and 13-10 against the spread (ATS). Games including the Flames tend to go under the O/U total (56.5 percent).
Meanwhile, Green Bay owns records of 10-18 SU and 11-11-1 ATS. Similarly to UIC, games including the Phoenix have finished under the total 52.2 percent of the time.
This will be the second game of the season between these two teams. In the first, the Phoenix lost 84-73, unable to cover as 7.5-point underdogs. Khalil Small scored a game-high 27 points and also added nine rebounds. The game finished with a total of 157 points, which was 10 points above the projected point total of 147 points. UIC’s effective field goal percentage was its biggest strength over Green Bay. The Flames had a rate of 0.655 while the Phoenix posted a mark of 0.462.
UIC Flames vs. Green Bay Phoenix Pick
Free Basketball Pick: SU Winner – Green Bay, ATS Winner – Green Bay, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes:
On the road, UIC is 8-5 ATS with 8 unders and 5 overs.
At home, Green Bay is 6-4 ATS with 7 unders and 3 overs.
UIC averages 38.2 rebounds per game, which ranks 53rd in the nation. Green Bay ranks 280th in rebounds allowed per game (39.7).
The Flames average 6.7 blocks per game, which ranks second in the NCAA. The Phoenix rank 182nd in blocks allowed per game (4.5).
Green Bay ranks 69th in three pointers attempted per game (24.4) while UIC ranks 246th (18.9).
The Phoenix average 7.2 steals per game, which ranks 54th in the nation. The Flames rank 189th in steals allowed per game (7.3).
Green Bay ranks 123rd in assists allowed per game (13.3) while UIC ranks 227th (15.3).
Bettings Trends:
In their last five games, UIC is 4-1 ATS with 3 unders and 2 overs.
Green Bay is 4-1 ATS with 4 unders and 1 over over their last five games.
The Flames’ average margin of victory in their last five games has been 10.0, up from 2.9 for the season.
During their last five games, the Phoenix have scored an average of 70.6 points per game (3.5 below their season average) and allowed an average of 68.2 points per game (5.4 below their season average).
