The Oregon Ducks take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in Piscataway, NJ. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET on Peacock.
Oregon is favored by 5.5 points on the spread with a price of 72-cent to win and the total set at 141.5 points on Fanatics Markets.
Here’s my Oregon vs. Rutgers predictions and college basketball picks for January 5, 2026.
Oregon vs Rutgers Prediction
My Pick: Oregon -5.5
My Oregon vs Rutgers best bet is on the Ducks to cover the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Oregon vs. Rutgers Odds
(If you're unfamiliar with Fanatics Markets, read more here.)
Oregon vs Rutgers College Basketball Betting Preview
Oregon wraps up its two-game East Coast road trip with a matchup at Jersey Mike's Arena against a struggling Rutgers team.
While the Ducks are just 1-2 in Big Ten play, they're on a two-game winning streak and just defeated Maryland by 10 on the road after traveling across the country.
Meanwhile, the Scarlet Knights have faced a difficult conference schedule thus far, getting mauled by both Purdue and Michigan and getting beaten by Ohio State at home.
But this isn't a bounce back spot for Steve Pikiell's group.
Instead, Evan Abrams' "Good Tm, Conf, Sm Fav, Both Tms Bad ATS" system tells us to back Dana Altman's bunch against the spread, even on the backend of its cross-country endeavors.
This system identifies undervalued favorites in college basketball who win consistently but have struggled against the spread, facing opponents with similar ATS struggles.
In conference play, where matchups are familiar and motivation runs high, the better overall team (no doubt Oregon in this spot) often prevails despite market skepticism caused by prior spread losses.
When a strong team sits as a small favorite, it suggests the line has tightened due to mutual ATS underperformance rather than true competitive balance.
This system capitalizes on that overcorrection, backing reliable programs that win outright at a steady rate when the market perception has dipped too far, turning short favorites into profitable plays.
Also, it helps that this system has a 2% return on investment (ROI) overall since its inception, including a 53% hit rate. This season, the system has an even-better 12% ROI on a 58% hit rate.
My Pick: Oregon -5.5
