Purdue vs Rutgers Odds
| Purdue Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-10 -110 | 142 -110o / -110u | -580 |
| Rutgers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+10 -110 | 142 -110o / -110u | +420 |
Here's everything you need to know about Purdue vs. Rutgers on Sunday, Jan. 28 — our expert pick and college basketball betting guide for today.
Matt Painter's Purdue Boilermakers are rolling in January. They have won four consecutive games and show no signs of slowing down.
Not so fast, my friends.
The Boilermakers travel to Piscataway, N.J. on Sunday afternoon to take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. The Knights aren't playing great basketball lately, but there is something magical about the RAC.
Steve Pikiell's Knights have entered desperation mode and I expect him to pull out all of the stops to get a big win.
Let's break down these teams and make a pick for Purdue vs. Rutgers.
Purdue Boilermakers
The Boilermakers have the talent to reach the Final Four, but I'll believe it when I see it. They have proved time and time again, including recently, that they choke in crunch time.
I might be naive, but the Boilermakers could fall asleep at the wheel at some point. There is no reason to lay a large number with Purdue.
The number one team in offensive efficiency, which is also 11th in defensive efficiency, shouldn't have any issues winning Sunday. There is no questioning Purdue's overall talent.
Zach Edey manning the frontcourt makes life easy for Purdue as it's rare for an opponent to be able to shut him down for an entire game.
Not only is Edey effective, but Purdue's guard play is terrific. The Boilermakers are third in the country in 3-point percentage.
Guards Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith have been outstanding and are shooting a combined 44% from 3 this season. The Boilermakers will need a good shooting performance to crack the Knights' defense as Rutgers usually gets a big boost from its home crowd.
Schematically, there is no reason to believe Purdue is on upset alert. However, the Boilermakers have been extremely fortunate on both ends of the floor, according to ShotQuality.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
It is now or never for the Knights, and they are a big win away from turning their season around. If the Knights get destroyed, it may deflate them for the remainder of the year.
I won't waste anybody's time talking about Rutgers' offense as it is one of the worst units in the country. Big man Clifford Omoruyi isn't as tall as Edey, but has the physicality to slow him down.
The Knights must control the tempo and win the game with their defense as their best offense is going to stem from that end of the floor.
Rutgers enters this matchup 10th in defensive efficiency and does a terrific job forcing turnovers. Good defense correlates to transition buckets, which will be key for Rutgers to hang around in the contest.
I worry about Rutgers' horrific free-throw shooting as it tends to leave free points on the table. The hope is that it won't be the difference at the end of the game.
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Purdue vs. Rutgers
Betting Pick & Prediction
I have faith in the Knights' defense to keep this game close. The Boilermakers deserve to be big favorites, but they are due for regression.
Strange things tend to happen at the RAC and I trust the Knights to put up a big effort. Rutgers is going to pull out all of the stops as a huge win would do wonders for its NCAA Tournament resume.
I don't think Rutgers will win, but this number is too inflated. I will happily hold my nose to back the Knights and hope their offense gets a boost from the rowdy home crowd.
