The Rutgers Scarlet Knights take on the Penn State Nittany Lions in University Park, PA. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. ET on Peacock.
Penn State is favored by 6.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -278. The total is set at 157.5 points.
Here are my Rutgers vs. Penn State predictions and college basketball picks for January 20, 2025.
Rutgers vs Penn State Prediction
My Pick: Rutgers +7.5 (Play to +5.5)
My Rutgers vs Penn State best bet is on the Scarlet Knights spread, with the best odds currently available at BetRivers. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Rutgers vs Penn State Odds
| Rutgers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -110 | 157.5 -108 / -112 | +225 |
| Penn State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -110 | 157.5 -108 / -112 | -278 |
- Rutgers vs Penn State spread: Penn State -6.5
- Rutgers vs Penn State over/under: 157.5 points
- Rutgers vs Penn State moneyline: Penn State -278, Rutgers +225
- Rutgers vs Penn State best bet: Rutgers +7.5 (Play to +5.5)
Spread
I'm taking the Scarlet Knights on the spread down to +5.5.
Moneyline
I have no play on the moneyline.
Over/Under
I'm avoiding the total.
My Pick: Rutgers +7.5 (Play to +5.5)
Rutgers vs Penn State College Basketball Betting Preview
Dylan Harper is back.
Rutgers is a different team when its superstar freshman point guard is right. The Scarlet Knights dropped three straight contests when illness gripped him.
After a DNP in a blowout loss at Indiana, he tried to play in home games against Wisconsin and Purdue. That was a mistake, as he managed a meager six total points in 43 combined minutes against those two foes. He looked like a shell of himself, and unsurprisingly, Rutgers lost both games by a combined 30 points.
The last two contests, though, he's rediscovered the All-American form he showed to start the season. In wins over UCLA at home and at Nebraska, Harper has posted averages of 19.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. The Scarlet Knights go as he goes.
It’s just in time for a rematch, too. Rutgers barely topped Penn State in Piscataway, 80-76, back on Dec. 10. Harper went nuts (24 points, 12 rebounds, five assists), and he’s crucial against Penn State’s pressure. The Nittany Lions rank 21st nationally in forced turnover rate, per KenPom, so having Harper’s steady hand on the ball is vital.
The handicap may seem simple, but sometimes, that’s the way to approach the sport. When Harper is right, Steve Pikiell's unit is an entirely different team. He looks right now, so I’ll ride the Scarlet Knights’ hot streak.
