Rutgers vs. Ohio State Pick
Which struggling Big Ten team will pick up a cover tonight when Ohio State hosts Rutgers at 7PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, Ohio State is favored at home tonight, as the Buckeyes are getting odds of -10.5 points against Rutgers. The over/under total for the game is listed at 135 points. Ohio State has won three straight meetings with Rutgers, covering the spread in two of the three games.
Ohio State is coming off a 70-66 win at Michigan to snap a two-game losing streak. The Buckeyes now sit 14-10 on the season and 4-7 in the Big Ten. Ohio State is just 9-13 against the spread this season as well. Ohio State is averaging 73.2 points per game on offense while the defense is allowing 68.5 per game. Jae’Sean Tate is putting up 14.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game to lead the team while Trevor Thompson adds 10.6 points and 9.3 rebounds per contest. JaQuan Lyle is averaging 11.8 points and 5.1 assists per game, but he is questionable to play tonight because of an ankle injury.
Rutgers snapped a three-game losing streak this weekend when it picked up a 70-68 win at Penn State to improve its record to 13-11 overall and 2-9 in the Big Ten. The Knights are 8-9-1 against the spread overall this season as well. While Rutgers allows just 66.4 points per game, the offense struggles and posts just 66 points per game. On the road, the offense is being held to 62 points per contest. Corey Sanders is averaging 13 points per game to lead the team while Deshawn Freeman is adding 11.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per contest.
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Neither team has been reliable this year, but I just don’t feel good about Ohio State giving up double-digit points to anyone right now. The Buckeyes haven’t won by double digits since a 77-40 win over Youngstown State on Dec. 20. While Rutgers isn’t a good team, the Knights have been able to be competitive for the most part. I think the Knights have enough defense to keep this game within 10 points.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL DAILY PREDICTION: RUTGERS +10.5