Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs Purdue Boilermakers Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 03/04/2025

Game Time: 7:00 pm ET, Tuesday, March 4, 2025

Venue:  Mackey Arena, West Lafayette, IN 

Where to Watch:  Peacock

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Rutgers +10.5, Purdue -10.5; Over/Under:  153.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Rutgers +10.5, Purdue -10.5; Over/Under:  153.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Rutgers +10.5, Purdue -10.5; Over/Under:  153.5 points

Rutgers Scarlet Knights:  14-15 (7-11) (14th place, Big Ten)

Purdue Boilermakers:  20-9 (12-6) (5th place, Big Ten)

Do not miss out on our expert handicapper analysis! Oskeim Sports is on a HOT STREAK in college basketball on an 11-1 CBB RUN for +$9,900 PROFIT! Make sure you check out his picks and many more from the expert handicappers featured in the Shop Picks section.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights:  2-3  last 5

Purdue Boilermakers:  1-4  last 5

Rutgers is entering this game with a 14-15 record overall, a 7-11 record in conference games, and they are 3-7 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are coming off a loss against the Michigan Wolverines in their last game. Lathan Sommerville and Dylan Harper each led the team in points in that game with 17 while Tyson Acuff was next on the team with 16. Ace Bailey led the team in assists with 3 in that game while Ace Bailey led the team in rebounds with 9. They were 44.8% from the field, 36% from 3-point range, and 72.2% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 76.9 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 76.5 PPG against them. Rutgers has an ATS record of 14-13-2 this season and their O/U record is 16-12-1.

Purdue is entering this game with a 20-9 record overall, a 12-6 conference record, and they are 13-2 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are coming off a win against the UCLA Bruins in their last game. Trey Kaufman-Renn led the team in points in that game with 29 while Braden Smith was next on the team with 23. Braden Smith led the team in assists with 8 in that game while Camden Heide led the team in rebounds with 9. They were 51.9% from the field, 50% from 3-point range, and 68.8% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 77.4 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 70 PPG against them. Purdue has an ATS record of 16-13 this season and their O/U record is 17-12.

The current betting odds have Purdue listed as a 10.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. Purdue has looked really good in their games this season with their 20-9 record overall and their 12-6 conference record which has them right near the top of the Big Ten. They have looked great on their home court too with their 13-2 home record. Meanwhile, Rutgers hasn't looked good in their games this season with their 14-15 record overall and their 7-11 conference record which has them right near the bottom of the Big Ten. They have been a terrible road team too with their 3-7 road record. They have looked better lately, winning 2 games in a row before losing a tight game to Michigan in their last one, but they are still 2-3 in their last 5 games and have been bad for most of the season. Purdue hasn't been any better lately as they are 1-4 in their last 5 games, but they just bounced back with a double digit win over UCLA in their last one and they will be looking to string together another big win at home after losing 4 games in a row. Purdue lost 4 games in a row, but they have also played a much tougher schedule in their last 5 so they are going to be looking at these last 2 games like ways to gain momentum going into the tournament. Before this bad stretch of games for them, Purdue was rolling over teams on their home court and even led the Big Ten for a bit of the season. Rutgers looked great in their last game even though they lost, but Purdue has the talent to take advantage of their road troubles this year. 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 Tuesday, March 4, 2025 (7:00 pm ET start time) is Purdue 79 Rutgers 65.

Don't miss our champion handicappers free picks and expert basketball picks today. And if you enjoyed this Rutgers Scarlet Knights Purdue Boilermakers prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our weekly NCAAB predictions and previews.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights: 1-6 ATS in a road game where the total is 150 to 159.5. 7-12 ATS off a road loss against a conference rival. 8-14 ATS versus good passing teams, averaging 16 assists/game or more. 11-6 OVER versus poor defensive teams - shooting pct defense of 45% or more. 19-10 1H OVER as a road underdog or pick. 10-5 1H ATS revenging a home loss vs opponent. 

Purdue Boilermakers: 3-0 ATS when playing against a marginal losing team (Win Pct. 40% to 49%). 25-15 1H ATS as a favorite of 10 or more points. 28-17 1H ATS off a win against a conference rival. 11-4 OVER as a home favorite of 6.5 to 12 points. 28-19 OVER off a win against a conference rival. 

Rutgers Scarlet Knights:  None.

Purdue Boilermakers:  D. Jacobsen (C) Out - Knee.

“A couple of (down the) stretch calls, I thought there were travels (on Michigan). Couldn’t get a stop, but couldn’t be more proud of these guys. Coming into this place and playing toe-to-toe with them the whole time, and you lose on that play?” - Steve Pikiell after his team’s win against Michigan in their last game. 

"I thought they played really hard for the entire game. We haven't had bad first halves in that four-game losing streak. We've had bad second halves, we've had a couple really bad starts to the second half, then, obviously, we haven't had great finishes to the second half.” - Matt Painter after his team’s win against UCLA in their last game. 

A. Bailey 

D. Grant 

D. Harper 

L. Sommerville 

J. Williams

C. Cox 

C. Furst 

T. Kaufman-Renn 

F. Loyer 

B. Smith

PPG: D. Harper (19.3)

APG: D. Harper (4)

Reb/G: A. Bailey (7.3)

PPG: T. Kaufman-Renn (19.6)

APG: B. Smith (8.7)

Reb/G: T. Kaufman-Renn (6)

Coaches:

Rutgers Scarlet Knights: Steve Pikiell (9th season)

Purdue Boilermakers: Matt Painter (20th season)