by Chuck Sommers
Tuesday, Jan 11, 2022
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Bryce Jordan Center, University Park, PA
Where to watch: BTN
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Penn State -3
BetMGM: NL
Caesars: Penn State -2.5
Season record
Rutgers: 9-5 (3-1 Big Ten)
Penn State: 7-6 (2-3 Big Ten)
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Rutgers - Penn State preview and analysis
Recent form
Rutgers: won four straight; won 93-65 vs. Nebraska on Jan. 8
Penn State: lost 74-67 vs. No. 7 Purdue on Jan. 8
If you were curious about which Big Ten teams would be the sleepers in the conference with nearlye very team dealing with COVID protocols, look no further than the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.
If you were curious about which Big Ten teams would be the sleepers in the conference with nearlye very team dealing with COVID protocols, look no further than the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.
They’re coming into Tuesday’s matchup with the Penn State Nittany Lions on a four-game winning streak, and I like their chances of moving that to five straight against an inferior Penn State club.
Rutgers isn’t quite up to par with the top teams in the conference like Purdue (which it defeated as the No. 1 team in the country already this season), Michigan State and Illinois, but this recent run of winning the Knights are on shows that they’ll at least take care of the competition put in front of them and make things compelling, at the slightest.
The Scarlet Knights have won three of their last four by double digits; the only one was an 8-point win against a shorthanded Michigan Wolverines club. You’ll take that if you’re trying to establish some sort of respectability in that conference.
Rutgers is coming off a 28-point win over Nebraska in what was an offensive clinic by the Knights. Rutgers made 58.3 percent of its shots, went 10 of 18 from 3-point range, missed only one free throw (13 of 14) while outrebounding the Cornhuskers 37-21.
The 93 points Rutgers scored was the most in a regulation finish since the school joined the Big Ten in the 2014-15 season.
Five players scored in double figures led by Ron Harper Jr.’s 29 points, while Aundre Hyatt added 13 points in 20 minutes off the bench. Three more players scored 10 points each.
It helps for programs on the rise to have that have that element of star power, and that’s what Harper Jr. provides. The son of the former NBA point guard is averaging 16.3 points on almost 45 percent shooting. Him keeping that pace is going to help Rutgers going forward.
But despite being on this four-game winning streak, the books are favoring Penn State by a couple points heading into this matchup. The books appear to take a liking to Penn State coming close to upsetting Purdue on Jan. 8, losing 74-67.
Jalen Pickett tied a game-high 21 points on 9 of 20 shooting to go along with 10 assists, while three other starters hit double figures in the loss.
The Nittany Lions won three of four prior to that loss; losing to Michigan State by 16 is not a crime, but they did get single-digit wins against Northwestern and Indiana to push them one game above .500 heading into this contest.
Prediction
It almost seems like a layup to take Rutgers with the points, as small as they are. But the Knights’ win streak has been impressive enough to believe they can keep this type of pace up against a struggling team. I like Rutgers with the win and the cover. Rutgers by 10
Betting trends
Rutgers is 15-11 ATS as an underdog the past three seasons.
The over is 14-3 for Rutgers since 1997 following three straight home wins.
Penn State is 16-21 ATS in its last 37 as a favorite.
Penn State is 3-7 straight up following a home loss over the past three seasons.
Projected starting lineup
Rutgers:
PG: Geo Baker
SG: Paul Mulcahy
SF: Ron Harper Jr.
PF: Caleb McConnell
C: Cliff Omoruyi
SF: Ron Harper Jr.
PF: Caleb McConnell
C: Cliff Omoruyi
Penn State:
PG: Jaheam Cornwall
SG: Jalen Pickett
SF: Greg Lee
PF: Seth Lundy
C: John Harrar
SF: Greg Lee
PF: Seth Lundy
C: John Harrar
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
