Columbia Lions vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/30/24

Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Lions and Scarlet Knights. The game is starting at 5:00 ET on BTN, and it’s hosted by the Scarlet Knights at Jersey Mike’s Arena in Piscataway, NJ. Get ready to place your bets! The odds for this non-conference game currently have Rutgers as the -11.5 favorite, with the over/under line sitting at 155.5 points.

COLUMBIA LIONS VS RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Columbia Lions +11.5

This game will be played at Jersey Mike’s Arena at 5:00 ET on Monday, December 30th.

WHY BET THE COLUMBIA LIONS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-69 in favor of the Scarlet Knights.
• Even though we have Rutgers winning straight-up, we like Columbia at +11.5.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 155.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 146 points.

Are the Lions Ready for a Road Win?

Columbia Lions Recent Game/Games

Columbia improved to 9-1 on the season with an 85-72 win over Fairfield on Saturday. The Lions, playing at home, were -9.5 favorites and covered the spread. The total points for the game were 157, surpassing the O/U line of 153.5.

Columbia trailed 41-32 at halftime but turned things around in the 2nd half, scoring 53 points while holding Fairfield to 31.

Columbia’s offense was firing on all cylinders in their latest game, scoring 85 points with a field goal percentage of 57.7%. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 65.4%, thanks to 70% shooting on two-pointers and 40.9% from beyond the arc. They also hit 94.1% of their free throws, going 16-for-17 from the line.

Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa led the way with 27 points, hitting 5 threes on 11 attempts. Zine Eddine Bedri was a force inside, shooting 85.7% from the field and grabbing 17 rebounds, while also dishing out 7 assists. Deon Perry was efficient from deep, hitting 4 of 5 threes and finishing with 12 points and 5 assists in just 18 minutes.

Columbia’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 72 points on 57% shooting from the field. The Lions allowed their opponents to convert 70% of their two-point attempts, with 21 made shots inside the arc.

From three-point range, Columbia’s defense gave up 9 threes on 22 attempts, a 40% shooting performance. They also sent their opponents to the free-throw line 17 times, where they hit 16 free throws, a 94% success rate. Columbia allowed 6 offensive rebounds in the game.

Do the Scarlet Knights Stand a Chance at Home?

Rutgers dropped to 7-5 on the season after a narrow 83-82 loss to Princeton on Saturday. The Scarlet Knights were -7 favorites heading into the game but couldn’t cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 165, surpassing the O/U line of 151.5.

Rutgers led 46-44 at halftime but were outscored 39-36 in the 2nd half. The loss raises questions about their ability to close out games, especially as favorites.

Rutgers put up 82 points in their latest game, shooting 46% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 50.8%. They hit 31.6% from beyond the arc, going 6-for-19, while connecting on 52.3% of their two-point attempts (23/44). At the free-throw line, they were 18-for-23, good for 78.3%.

Caden Pierce and Xaivian Lee each contributed 21 points, with Pierce shooting 58.8% and grabbing 14 rebounds. Lee struggled from the field, hitting just 31.8%, but dished out 11 assists. Dylan Harper added 22 points, shooting 50% overall, despite going 1-for-6 from three-point range.

Rutgers gave up 83 points in their last game, allowing the opposing team to shoot 46% from the field, with 29 made baskets on 63 attempts. Inside the arc, the Scarlet Knights’ defense allowed 23 two-point field goals on 44 attempts, resulting in a 52% shooting percentage.

From beyond the arc, Rutgers held their opponent to 31% shooting, as they connected on 6 of 19 three-point attempts. The Scarlet Knights also sent the other team to the free-throw line 23 times, where they converted 18 of their attempts, shooting 78%. Rutgers allowed 12 offensive rebounds in the contest.