Rutgers vs Bucknell 12/23/22 College Basketball Picks, Predictions, Odds
Bucknell Bison (7-5) vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (7-4)
December 23, 2022 5:00 pm EDT
The Line: Rutgers Scarlet Knights -19.5 / Bucknell Bison +19.5; Over/Under: +131.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Bucknell Bison and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights meet in college basketball action from the Jersey Mike’s Arena on Friday afternoon.
The Bucknell Bison will look to rebound from an 81-71 loss to Richmond in their last game. Xander Rice leads the Bison in scoring and assists with 16.2 PPG and 4.3 APG while Andre Screen has 11.5 PPG and 6.2 RPG this season. Alex Timmerman has 11.2 PPG with a team-high 6.7 RPG to lead the Bison on the glass and to cap off the group of double-digit scorers for Bucknell up to this point in the year. As a team, Bucknell is averaging 73.7 points per game on 50.1% shooting from the field, 41% from three-point range and 69.8% from the foul line this season.
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights will try to build on an 81-57 win over Wake Forest last time out. Clifford Omoruyi leads Rutgers with a team-high 14.4 PPG and 9.5 RPG to lead the Scarlet Knights in scoring and on the glass this season. Cam Spencer has 12.7 PPG with a team-high 3.5 APG to lead Rutgers in assists while Aundre Hyatt has 11.1 PPG with 4.8 RPG. Caleb McConnell has 10.3 PPG with 5 RPG to cap off the trio of double-digit scorers for Rutgers up to this point in the year. As a team, Rutgers is averaging 70.5 PPG on 43.7% shooting from the field, 31% from three and 71% from the foul line this season.
Bucknell is 5-16 ATS in their last 21 games following an ATS win and 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games against a team with a winning record while the over is 4-1 in their last 5 games overall. Rutgers is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games and 1-6 ATS in their last 7 Friday games while the under is 4-1 in their last 5 games overall.
I get the case to be made for either side in this game, but the problem for Bucknell is that this isn’t the same Bucknell team that we’ve made money with in the past and one that’s been able to keep games close as a live dog. Rutgers is a solid defensive unit, but they’ve also done a good job at putting up points at the other end and I think this ends up being another convincing victory from the Scarlet Knights. Give me Rutgers laying the big number here.
