Rutgers vs. Ohio State Pick
Will No. 16 Ohio State be able to stay in the Big Ten hunt tonight when the Buckeyes host Rutgers at 7PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at YouWager, Ohio State is favored at home, as the Buckeyes are getting odds of -14.5 points against Rutgers. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 128 points. Tonight’s game will take place from Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio and will air live on the Big Ten Network.
Ohio State has lost two straight at Penn State and Michigan to fall out of first in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes are 22-7 overall, 13-3 in the Big Ten and 14-13 against the spread. Ohio State is putting up 75.8 points per game on offense this season while allowing 66.7 per contest. Keita Bates-Diop is leading Ohio State with 19.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per game while Jae’Sean Tate adds 12.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.
Rutgers is coming off a 61-51 loss at Maryland for its eighth loss in nine games. The Scarlet Knights are 13-6 overall, 3-13 in the Big Ten and 11-10 against the spread. Rutgers averages just 64 points per game on offense while allowing 64.5 per contest. On the road, Rutgers puts up just 55.8 points per game while giving up 73.5. Corey Sanders is leading the team with 14.2 points per game while Deshawn Freeman is adding 11.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per contest.
Ohio State has won five of its last six meetings with Rutgers, including a 68-46 win at Rutgers back on Jan. 14. The Buckeyes have lost two straight, but both were on the road. I think returning home should help the Buckeyes get back on track. Rutgers has been a mess on the road, going 0-8 overall at 2-6 ATS. Though it’s a big spread to cover, Ohio State has already won by that margin at Rutgers. The public betting is strongly backing Ohio State as well.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL PREDICTIONS: OHIO STATE -14.5