Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights 1/9/19, Prediction & Odds

Buckeyes vs. Scarlet Knights Prediction

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights have dropped their first three games in Big Ten Conference play as they get set to host the 16th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. Is Rutgers going to stay within the number or even pull off the upset tonight?

Game Snapshot

795 Ohio State Buckeyes at 796 Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Wednesday, January 9, 2019

Rutgers Athletic Center at 7PM ET

TV: BTN

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Public Betting Information

According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, the Buckeyes are a 6-point favorite on the spread line. The total is set at 132 points. As of Wednesday morning, 54 percent of public bets are being placed on visiting Ohio State. Check out our College Basketball Betting Page for up-to-date information.

Buckeyes unable to hang with MSU

Ohio State was outscored 50-34 Saturday at home in an 86-77 defeat versus eighth-ranked Michigan State. The Buckeyes (12-2, 2-1 Big Ten) shot 27-of-62 from the floor, 7-of-24 from 3-point range and 16-of-21 at the free throw line. Kaleb Wesson paced OSU with 25 points on 9-of-15 shooting including 1-of-2 from 3-point distance plus 6-of-9 at the free throw line. He also pulled down eight rebounds. Luther Muhammad contributed 12 points to go with two boards and two assists. Andre Wesson tallied 10 points and four rebounds. C.J. Jackson had 10 points, five caroms, five assists and four steals. Duane Washington Jr. added 10 points and four rebounds off the bench.

Scarlet Knights fall to Terrapins

Rutgers dropped a 77-63 home decision Saturday afternoon to Maryland to drop to 7-6 overall and 0-3 in Big Ten action. The Scarlet Knights trailed 40-19 at halftime in the defeat. Eugene Omoruyi led Rutgers with 12 points on 4-of-10 shooting plus 4-of-6 at the free throw line. He also notched two rebounds. Montez Mathis tallied 11 points, eight boards, seven assists and two steals. Ron Harper Jr. added 10 points plus two rebounds off the bench. Rutgers shot 23-of-62 from the field, 6-of-21 on 3-point tries and 11-of-17 at the charity stripe.

Ohio State

The Buckeyes are 2-2 ATS in the last four meetings versus Rutgers. Ohio State is 3-1 straight up in the last four meetings.

Rutgers

The under is 3-1 in the last four meetings. The Scarlet Knights are 1-4 ATS in their last five games.

Prediction:

Rutgers is by no means a fantastic basketball team, but perhaps it is better than we give it credit. All but one of the Scarlet Knights' losses have come to a top-50 team and they are ranked 36th nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency. The offense is still lacking, but I see Rutgers hanging in this home game to the finish against an Ohio State team reeling from a poor second half at home last game. If the Scarlet Knights can have a result like a 69-64 defeat last month at Wisconsin, it can be competitive here.

 

NCAA DAILY PREDICTION: RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS +6