At this stage of the season in college basketball, the teams that occupy the top 25 in the national rankings will already know that they are probably heading to the tournament in March. If you look at the sports sites that pay attention to these types of things, such as talking about the tams on the bubble. Most agree that anywhere from 19-22 teams are basically locks at this point. There are several more who are almost as good as safe, but there are a large number who are on the bubble and unable to relax until the final 68 teams are officially chosen. One conference that is getting a lot of attention right now is the Big Ten, with the Penn State Nittany Lions considered to be one of the teams who are now a lock. The same cannot be said for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, though, which is why they are the team under the most pressure when they head to University Park on Wednesday night. It is the Nittany Lions who are favored by 5 ½ on home court, with the point total for this one set at 137 ½. Let’s see how the College Basketball odds will be for the Rutgers vs Penn State.
Rutgers vs Penn State 2020 College Basketball Game Preview & Betting Odds
- When: Wednesday, February 26 at 7 PM EST
- Where: Bryce Jordan Center, University Park
- TV: BTN
- NCAAB Odds: Penn State -5.5 / Total 137.5
Why bet on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights
It has not been a poor season by any stretch of the imagination for the Scarlet Knights, but their current 18-10 record has them sitting very much on the bubble with just a week and a half left in the regular season. Making matters much worse is the fact that they appear to be getting tight and hurting their own cause ahead of this one. They lost both of their games last week and have now lost 3 of their last 5. They do still have a winning record in conference play, but at 9-8, it is by the slimmest margin available. Making matters worse here is the fact that the Scarlet Knights have dropped each of their last 5 road games, while going just 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 69.82
- Field Goal %: 44.61
- Three Point %: 30.4
- Free Throw %: 65.24
- Total Rebounds: 40.07
Defense
- Total Score: Rutgers Scarlet Knights
- Field Goal %: 62.21
- Three Point %: 38.44
- Free Throw %: 32
- Total Rebounds: 71.1
Why bet on the Penn State Nittany Lions
The Penn State Nittany Lions saw their stock drop last week after losing back to back games to Indiana and Illinois, losses that took them all the way back to #16 in the nation. While they are almost certainly going to be a part of March Madness, the Nittany Lions will want to get back into form before they head into the tournament, so they will be looking to win here and get some of their mojo back. The fact that they are 13-2 in their own building certainly gives them an edge in this one, as does the fact that they are a rather solid 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 games. February is a good month to play Penn State against the spread, as they are 11-2-1 ATS in their last 14 in that month.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 76.07
- Field Goal %: 44.27
- Three Point %: 32.82
- Free Throw %: 69.19
- Total Rebounds: 38.74
Defense
- Total Score: Penn State Nittany Lions
- Field Goal %: 67.19
- Three Point %: 40.29
- Free Throw %: 31.84
- Total Rebounds: 67.82
Rutgers vs Penn State Betting Trends
- Rutgers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games.
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Rutgers’ last 5 games.
- Rutgers are 2-5 SU in their last 7 games.
- Rutgers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games against Penn State.
- Penn State are 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Penn State’s last 9 games.
- Penn State are 8-2 SU in their last 10 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Penn State’s last 7 games against Rutgers.
Rutgers vs Penn State Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction
Both teams could use a win to snap out of a losing skid, and with home court advantage here, you have to think that the Nittany Lions seem the most likely to get the W. I am taking them to win and cover on Wednesday night.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights 62 Penn State Nittany Lions 70
