Rutgers (8-5) vs. Indiana (9-3)
January 2, 2025 8:30 pm EDT
The Line: Indiana -5.5; Over/Under: +157.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Indiana Hoosiers meet Thursday in college basketball action from the Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s an Indiana vs Rutgers Prediction.
Rutgers Recap
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights come into this game looking to add on to their 91-64 win over Columbia in blowout fashion last time out to improve to 8-5 on the year. After this game, Rutgers will meet Wisconsin and Purdue.
Scarlet Knights Looking To Pick Up Big Road Win
Dylan Harper leads the Scarlet Knights in scoring and assists with 22.8 PPG and 4.8 APG along with 5.3 RPG while Ace Bailey has 18.2 PPG and a team-high 7.6 RPG to lead the Scarlet Knights on the glass as the only other double-digit scorer for Rutgers up to this point in the year. Jeremiah Williams also has 7.8 PPG and Lathan Sommerville has 7.8 PPG with 4 RPG. Jordan Derkack’s also added 7.6 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 2.7 APG as well on the year. As a team, Rutgers is averaging 79.7 PPG on 46.3% shooting from the field, 33.6% from three, and 71.4% from the foul line this season.
Why the Rutgers Scarlet Knights will win
- Rutgers has won each of its last six night games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
Indiana Recap
The Indiana Hoosiers come into this game looking to build on a 77-68 win over Winthrop last time out to improve to 10-3 on the year as a result. After this game, Indiana will head on the road for a conference road game against Penn State.
Hoosiers Win Back-To-Back Games
Malik Reneau has 15 PPG with 6.3 RPG while Mackenzie Mgbako has 13.5 PPG with 4.8 RPG. Oumar Ballo has 12.4 PPG with a team-high 9.2 RPG to lead the Hoosiers on the glass while Myles Rice has 11.5 PPG with 3.1 RPG and 3.2 APG to round out the group of double-digit scorers for Indiana up to this point in the year. Trey Galloway has a team-high 3.8 APG to lead the Hoosiers in the assist department up to this point in the year. As a team, Indiana is averaging 78.7 PPG on 49% shooting from the field, 30.6% from three, and 72.7% from the foul line this season.
Why the Indiana Hoosiers will win
- Indiana has won each of its last 11 games at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
- Rutgers has lost each of its last seven Thursday night road games against the Big Ten Conference.
Total Points Facts
- Each of Indiana’s last 12 games against Conference opponents at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall has produced a total of 156 or fewer points.
- Each of Rutgers’ last eight games against Conference opponents has produced a total of 156 or fewer points.
Indiana vs Rutgers Prediction
I’m with Indiana at home in this one. The Hoosiers are a team I have some concerns with when it comes to the deep waters of conference play when we get to the meat and potatoes of the Big Ten schedule down the road. When they have to leave Bloomington. However, Rutgers is another team I have my concerns with that if you take away Bailey and Harper, who are the heart and soul of this Rutgers offense. There’s really not much of a backup plan for the Scarlet Knights to fall back on. Indiana has a talented roster that I think has more potential to deliver here, so I’ll side with Indiana at home in this one.
