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The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are set to face the Purdue Boilermakers. Check out our college basketball odds series, which includes our Rutgers Purdue prediction, odds, and pick.
Back in December, Purdue had just become the No. 1 team in the polls for the first time in program history. College basketball odds analysts know what happened next: Rutgers upset Purdue in Piscataway, N.J. You know that when sizing up a Rutgers Purdue pick, the first point of conversation will be Purdue's desire for revenge in this return home game at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette.
What makes a Rutgers Purdue prediction tougher than you might first think is that Rutgers is a much better team than it was when it beat Purdue months ago. The Scarlet Knights are in the midst of their best stretch of the season. They have beaten Ohio State, Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Illinois to vault into the upper half of the Big Ten standings and, more crucially, into the NCAA Tournament field. Coach Steve Pikiell had a very tough time getting his players on the same page this season. Rutgers simply wasn't meshing on the court very well through mid-January. In the last few weeks, though, all the pieces of the puzzle have managed to fit. It all started with that late 10-0 run which turned an eight-point loss at home to Ohio State into a two-point win.
People thinking about the Rutgers Purdue odds know that the Ohio State comeback changed Rutgers' season. It was the big turning-point moment which altered the tone and trajectory of the Scarlet Knights' journey. Rutgers is no longer a mediocre team; the Scarlet Knights are the Big Ten team with the most upward momentum at the moment.
Purdue is not a team in ownership of a lot of momentum. The Boilermakers did beat Illinois a few weeks ago to sweep the Fighting Illini and gain leverage in the Big Ten championship chase, but they subsequently lost to Michigan and barely beat Maryland at home, followed by a workmanlike win over Northwestern. Purdue occasionally flashes its brilliance and shows the full measure of its potential, but those great games when the Boilermakers operate at the peak of their powers are few and far between. Sustaining that high level of play has been a challenge for Matt Painter's team, which joined Michigan as a preseason Final Four contender but has not been able to distance itself from Wisconsin and Illinois at the top of the conference. Purdue has a lot of size and power, but the lack of a consistent bench limits the Boilermakers' depth. Painter has to find the right rotation which can give him enough options in March … and in this game against Rutgers.
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Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Rutgers-Purdue odds:
College Basketball odds: Rutgers-Purdue Odds
Rutgers: +13 (-110)
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Purdue: -13 (-110)
Over: 138 (-114)
Under: 138 (-106)
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Why Rutgers Could Cover the Spread
The Scarlet Knights are on a roll, and even though they are great at home, they did recently win on the road at Wisconsin, so they're not just a New Jersey juggernaut; they can play well away from Piscataway.
Why Purdue Could Cover the Spread
The Boilermakers remember their loss to Rutgers a few months ago. They're going to be mad about it, and that will create the level of focus needed to display the measure of their talents. If they do, they will cover the spread.
Final Rutgers-Purdue Prediction & Pick
Purdue's loss to Rutgers probably helps the Boilermakers here. Purdue will indeed be focused on the task and deliver a sharp performance. However, 13 points is still quite a lot, and Rutgers is playing too well to get blown out. Purdue wins by 10.
Final Rutgers-Purdue Pick: Rutgers +13
