The Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Penn State Nittany Lions meet Thursday in college basketball action from Bryce Jordan Center. 

Rutgers enters this one at 7-5 so far. The Knights have lost four straight games, most recently to Wisconsin on Friday. As for the Nittany Lions, they’re 3-6 this year. Penn State has lost five straight and are coming off a loss to Illinois. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place. 

Rutgers began their year on a six-game win streak over Sacred Heart, Fairleigh Dickinson, Hofstra, Syracuse, Maryland and Illinois. Since then it’s been a 1-5 run for the Knights, with a win over Purdue and losses to Ohio State, Iowa, Michigan State, Ohio State and Wisconsin. 

In Friday’s 60-54 loss to the Badgers, Rutgers’ Jacob Young was the only team player in double-figures with 19 points, three assists and two rebounds. Myles Johnson added 12 rebounds with one assist and nine points in 25 minutes on the floor as well. 

Over on the Penn State side, they began their year with a 3-1 run, falling to Seton Hall while beating VMI, VCU and Virginia Tech. Since then it’s been a futile period, however. The Lions are currently on an 0-5 stretch with losses to Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Purdue and Illinois again. 

In Tuesday’s 79-65 rematch loss to the Illini, Penn State’s Myreon Jones posted 20 points with three rebounds and one assist. Seth Lundy added 13 points with five rebounds and one assist, and Izaiah Brockington chipped in six points, four rebounds and three assists. 

The Lions are 1-6 ATS in their last seven home games and 4-11 ATS in their last 15 overall. Penn State is 2-7 ATS in their last nine after an ATS loss and the over is 4-1 in their last five Thursday games. 

Meanwhile, the Knights are 1-3-1 ATS in their last five after an ATS loss and 1-4 ATS in their last five versus a team with a  winning percentage below .400. The over is 9-4-1 in Rutgers’ last 14 overall and 5-0 in their last five versus a team with a winning percentage below .400. 

PICK: I’m going to take Penn State. This should be an interesting matchup if nothing else; both Penn State and Rutgers are quality teams and haven’t had much luck lately with a difficult Big Ten. That said, the Nittany Lions have still been scoring fairly well, with 72 or more in three of their last four. I like Rutgers to put up a good fight here, with Penn State sticking out a late cover/win in a fun game to watch.