Purdue Boilermakers vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/9/25
Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Boilermakers and Scarlet Knights. The game is starting at 6:00 ET on FS1, and it’s hosted by the Scarlet Knights at Jersey Mike’s Arena in Piscataway, NJ. Get ready to place your bets! Purdue is favored by -1.5 in this Big Ten conference showdown. The game’s over/under is currently at 149.5 points.
PURDUE BOILERMAKERS VS RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Rutgers Scarlet Knights +1.5
This game will be played at Jersey Mike’s Arena at 6:00 ET on Thursday, January 9th.
WHY BET THE RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-69 in favor of the Scarlet Knights.
- Not only will Rutgers pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +1.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 149.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 145 points.
Can Purdue Grab a Win on the Road?
Purdue improved to 11-4 on the season with a 79-61 win over Northwestern on Sunday. The Boilermakers, who were favored by 6.5 points, covered the spread, and the total points of 140 went just over the 138.5 O/U line.
Purdue dominated early, leading 41-18 at halftime, but allowed 43 points in the 2nd half while scoring 38 of their own.
Purdue’s offense put up 79 points in their last game, shooting 50.9% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 58.2%. They hit 40% from beyond the arc, going 8-for-20, and were strong at the free-throw line, converting 83.3% of their attempts (15/18).
Braden Smith led the way with 22 points and 7 assists, while Angelo Ciaravino added 19 points in just 21 minutes. Trey Kaufman-Renn contributed 12 points, and C.J. Cox also scored 12, grabbing 8 rebounds along the way.
Despite Purdue’s defensive struggles, allowing 61 points on 50% shooting, they still managed to hold their opponent to just 61 points. Purdue allowed 57% shooting from inside the arc, with their opponent hitting 20 of 35 two-point attempts.
From three-point range, Purdue’s defense gave up 8 threes on 20 attempts, a 40% clip. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 18 times, where they converted 15 free throws, shooting 83%. Purdue allowed 9 offensive rebounds in the game.
Can Rutgers Secure a Home Victory?
Rutgers Scarlet Knights Recent Game/Games
Rutgers dropped to 8-7 on the season after a 75-63 home loss to Wisconsin on Monday. The Scarlet Knights entered the game as +1.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread.
Trailing 43-34 at halftime, Rutgers couldn’t close the gap in the second half, scoring 29 points while allowing 32. The game’s total points of 138 fell short of the 157 O/U line.
In their last game, Rutgers struggled offensively, shooting just 34.2% from the field and 26.9% from beyond the arc. Their effective field goal percentage was 38.4%, and they hit only 46.2% of their free throws, going 6-for-13 from the line.
John Blackwell led the way with 21 points, while Steven Crowl added 18 points on 72.7% shooting, hitting 2-of-3 from three-point range. Crowl also grabbed 10 rebounds, contributing to Rutgers’ 18 offensive boards in the game.
Even with a strong defensive effort, Rutgers couldn’t hold their opponent under 75 points. The Scarlet Knights limited them to just 34% shooting from the field, including 38% on two-point attempts (18/47).
From beyond the arc, Rutgers held their opponent to 26% shooting, with just 7 made threes on 26 attempts. They also sent them to the line 13 times, where they hit 6 free throws (46%).