Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs Purdue Boilermakers Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 02/22/2024

Game Time: 7:00 pm ET, Thursday, February 22, 2024

Venue:  Mackey Complex, West Lafayette, IN

Where to Watch:  Fox Sports 1

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Rutgers +16.5, Purdue -16.5; Over/Under:  139.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Rutgers +16.5, Purdue -16.5; Over/Under:  139.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Rutgers +16.5, Purdue -16.5; Over/Under:  139.5 points

Rutgers Scarlet Knights:  14-11 (6-8) (9th place, Big Ten)

Purdue Boilermakers:  23-3 (12-3) (1st place, Big Ten)

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Rutgers Scarlet Knights:  4-1  last 5

Purdue Boilermakers:  4-1  last 5

Rutgers is entering this game with a 14-11 record overall, a 6-8 record in conference games, and they are 3-6 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are coming off a loss against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in their last game. Clifford Omoruyi and Derek Simpson each led the team in points per game in that game with 19 while Jeremiah Williams was next on the team with 9. Aundre Hyatt and Jeremiah Williams each led the team in assists with 4 in that game while Clifford Omoruyi led the team in rebounds with 8. They were 38.7% from the field, 21.1% from 3-point range, and 81.8% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 66.9 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 65.4 PPG against them. Rutgers has an ATS record of 12-13 this season and their O/U record is 8-17.

Purdue is entering this game with a 23-3 record overall, a 12-3 conference record, and they are 13-0 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are coming off a loss against the Ohio State Buckeyes in their last game. Zach Edey led the team in points in that game with 22 while Lance Jones was next on the team with 13. Braden Smith led the team in assists with 7 in that game while Zach Edey led the team in rebounds with 13. They were 43.4% from the field, 33.3% from 3-point range, and 100% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 84.4 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 69.9 PPG against them. Purdue has an ATS record of 14-10-2 this season and their O/U record is 17-9.

The current betting odds have Purdue listed as a 16.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. Purdue has looked great in their games this season with their 23-3 record overall which has them ranked inside the top 25 teams in the country and also ranked as one of the best in the nation. They have looked great in the Big Ten all season with their 12-3 conference record which leads the way in the conference and they have also looked great on their home court with their 13-0 home record. Meanwhile, Rutgers hasn't looked great in their games this season with their 14-11 record overall and their 6-8 conference record which has them in the bottom half of the Big Ten right now. They haven't looked any better in their road games either with their 3-6 road record. Rutgers has been getting hot in their games lately as they are 4-1 in their last 5 games, but they also lost to Minnesota in their last game which has made them lose some of their momentum coming into this one. They are also getting Purdue in a terrible situation here since Purdue is one of the best teams in the country and just took a loss on the road in their last game to Ohio State so Purdue will be looking to bounce back in a big way here on their home court. The best way to place a bet here is on Purdue to cover the spread in this game. 

Rutgers Purdue Prediction:  Our NCAAB Pick for Thursday, February 22, 2024 (7:00 pm ET start time) is Purdue 88 Rutgers 64.

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Rutgers Scarlet Knights: 23-16 ATS as an underdog. 10-3 ATS off a loss by 10 points or more to a conference rival. 8-4 ATS after a game where they failed to cover the spread. 17-8 UNDER in all games. 9-4 UNDER when the total is 130 to 139.5. 35-22 UNDER against conference opponents.

Purdue Boilermakers: 22-36 ATS against conference opponents. 4-8 ATS off an upset loss to a conference rival as a favorite. 19-29 ATS after a game where they failed to cover the spread. 8-4 UNDER off an upset loss to a conference rival as a favorite. 9-5 UNDER after 1 or more consecutive losses. 23-15 UNDER after 2 straight games where they had 5 or less steals.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights:  None.

Purdue Boilermakers:  None.

"They are a very good team, first and foremost. Our defense has been spectacular the last five games and it wasn't today. We gave up too many open looks and we gave up too much in the paint. I give Ben Johnson credit. I think he's done a fantastic job. We can't give up 81 points on the road. We scored plenty of points to be really competitive, but it is the first time in a while that our defense wasn't where it needed to be. It's always on the coach. I thought (Dawson) Garcia made some big plays for them and their big man (Pharell Payne) was spectacular. Tip of the hat to them, giving up 52 percent shooting from the floor is not Rutgers basketball and especially when you go on the road you have to play Rutgers basketball." - Steve Pikiell after his team’s loss against Minnesota in their last game on Sunday.

“That's what you don't know — can you get them down and keep them down, and then like, they go away, which obviously didn't happen. They win the game. So you know, where's their fight? What's it going to be. I think they answered that. Their fight was great.” - Matt Painter after his team’s loss against OSU in their last game on Sunday.

A. Hyatt 

M. Mag 

C. Omoruyi 

D. Simpson 

A. Williams

Z. Edey 

L. Jones 

T. Kaufman-Renn 

F. Loyer 

B. Smith

PPG: J. Williams (13.2)

APG: J. Williams (3.8)

Reb/G: C. Omoruyi (9)

PPG: Z. Edey (23.2)

APG: B. Smith (7.2)

Reb/G: Z. Edey (11.9)

Coaches:

Rutgers Scarlet Knights: Steve Pikiell (8th season)

Purdue Boilermakers: Matt Painter (19th season)