Indiana vs Rutgers Basketball Prediction, Odds & Picks

The RAC has been home to a number of notable results in Steve Pikiell’s tenure at Rutgers. We could see another one today as the Scarlet Knights will host the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers to open Big Ten play.

This is Pikiell’s seventh season at Rutgers, and in his tenure, the Scarlet Knights have 11 home wins over ranked teams. Last season alone, they defeated four ranked teams at Jersey Mike’s Arena, including #1 Purdue last December.

The Hoosiers have impressed in their toughest games thus far this season, defeating Xavier on the road and North Carolina at home, so they will certainly be prepared for this challenge.

But will preparation lead to prosperity, or will they be the latest ranked team to leave Piscataway with an L? Keep reading for our Indiana vs Rutgers prediction, along with the bets that we recommend for the matchup.

Indiana Hoosiers vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights Matchup Information and Betting Odds

Matchup Information

• Matchup: #10 Indiana Hoosiers (7-0) vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights (5-2)
• Venue & Location: Jersey Mike’s Arena (Piscataway, New Jersey)
• Date: Saturday, December 3, 2022
• Game Time: 4:00 pm ET
• How to Watch Indiana vs Rutgers: Big Ten Network

Indiana vs Rutgers Odds

Game odds are via Bovada Sportsbook as of Saturday, December 3, 2022, at 9:45 am ET. Odds from our other recommended legal sports betting sites may also appear in this article.

Spread

• Indiana -4 (-110)
• Rutgers +4 (-110)

Over/Under

• Over 134.5 (-110)
• Under 134.5 (-110)

Moneyline

• Indiana -170
• Rutgers +145

Can Omoruyi Outduel TJD?

Indiana star Trayce Jackson-Davis came back for one final crack at helping the Hoosiers win their first Big Ten title since 2016 and make a deep NCAA Tournament run, and it’s been so far, so good for TJD and IU.

Through seven games, Jackson-Davis is averaging 19.2 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 2.3 APG, and 1.5 BPG, and he is shooting a scoring 71.2 percent from the field.

In Indiana’s notable wins this season, he has done what a player of his level is supposed to do in big games. Against Xavier, he had 30 points on 13 of 16 shooting, and in Wednesday’s 77-65 win over UNC, he tallied 21 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, and four blocks.

By comparison, ACC Preseason Player of the Year and Wooden Award candidate Armando Bacot had 12 points, 10 boards, one block, and four fouls.

If Rutgers is going to have a chance to upset Indiana this afternoon, their man in the middle, Cliff Omoruyi, is going to have to put up much better numbers than Bacot did and stay out of foul trouble.

Early results are certainly encouraging for that playing out favorably. After averaging 11.9 PPG, 7.8 RPG, and 1.3 BPG in 28.7 minutes per game last season, the junior from Nigeria is averaging 16.7 PPG, 9.9 RPG, and 1.7 BPG in 30.7 minutes per game this season.

His shooting percentage is down (52.7 percent this season, down from 62.4 percent last season), but he is averaging almost five shots more per game than last season as he is now counted on to score more without Ron Harper Jr. or Geo Baker.

Notably, Omoruyi is staying out of foul trouble, as he hasn’t committed more than three fouls in any game thus far this season. Ensuring that he is on the floor for 35+ minutes will be key to how this game turns out for Rutgers.

Indiana vs Rutgers Prediction and Picks

Indiana vs Rutgers Prediction: Rutgers to win

Indiana vs Rutgers Picks: Rutgers to cover (Best Value: +4 @ -110 at Bovada Sportsbook) & Rutgers team total over (Best Value: over 65.5 @ -115 at Bovada Sportsbook)

Jackson-Davis is going to get his, as he does more often than not. But this is Rutgers playing at home against a ranked team, and as a lover of chaos, I’m rocking and rolling with the upset today.

Along with Omoruyi more than holding his own in the middle, Rutgers will need Cam Spencer to come up big.

In their two losses to Temple (by six) and Miami (by five), the Loyola (MD) transfer went a combined 1 for 10 from three, but in their wins, he is 15 for 27 (55.6 percent). In Wednesday’s loss to Miami, he was 1 for 5 from three and 1 for 10 overall from the field.

If Spencer can connect on three or more threes, which he has done four times this season, that could make a major difference in a close game, which I expect this to be. I expect Spencer to bounce back from his horror show against the Hurricanes and play a big part in helping hand the Hoosiers their first loss of the season.

More College Basketball Content at Betting News

• Oklahoma vs Villanova Prediction & Picks