
Rutgers vs Michigan Prediction 2/1/25 College Basketball Picks Today
Michigan (15-5) vs. Rutgers (11-10)
February 1, 2025 3:30 pm EDT
The Line: Rutgers +3.5; Over/Under: 155.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Michigan Wolverines and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights meet Saturday in college basketball action from the RAC. Here’s a Rutgers vs Michigan prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Rutgers vs Michigan pick.
Michigan Wolverines Betting Preview
Michigan has racked up a handful of losses so far this year, but overall they’ve been quite the consistent team. The Wolverines have just one instance of consecutive losses this season. In their first nine outings, Michigan went a nice 8-1 with a lone loss to Wake Forest. Otherwise it was wins over Cleveland State, TCU, Miami Ohio, Tarleton State, Virginia Tech, Xavier, Wisconsin and Iowa. The next two were both losses to Arkansans and Oklahoma, but Michigan quickly found their footing afterward. The Wolverines took out Fort Wayne, Western Kentucky, USC, UCLA and Washington in the next five games. Since then it’s been a spotty 2-2 run though. Michigan has losses to Minnesota and Purdue in that time, alongside wins over Northwestern and Penn State otherwise. That gives the Wolverines a 15-5 record this year.
In the Penn State matchup back on Monday, Michigan posted a 35-35 result in the first half. The Wolverines came back for a 41-37 run the rest of the way, ultimately powering out a 76-72 victory in the end. Leading the team in scoring was Tre Donaldson with 21 points, seven assists, four steals and three rebounds. Danny Wolf added 11 points with nine rebounds and two blocks, and Nimari Burnett chipped in with 10 points, three boards and four assists.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights Betting Preview
Over on the Rutgers’ side, they’ve had a few pretty good runs so far this season. They’ve also had a few pretty bad runs this season however, giving the Knights a record that’s barely above the .500 mark. Rutgers opened on a 5-1 stretch, losing to Kennesaw State with wins otherwise versus Wagner, Saint Peter’s, Monmouth, Merrimack and Notre Dame. A 3-4 run came next with wins over Penn State, Seton Hall and Columbia alongside losses to Alabama, Texas A&M, Ohio State and Princeton. Three more losses ensued versus Indiana, Wisconsin and Purdue, then a 3-2 stretch. Those wins were over UCLA, Nebraska and Northwestern. Otherwise it was losses to Penn State and Michigan, giving the Scarlet Knights an 11-10 overall run so far.
Matched up against Northwestern in their Wednesday game, the Knights came out of the break with a 43-35 edge. Rutgers was able to fend off the opposition on a 37-36 run the rest of the way, ultimately taking a victory 79-72 in the end. Ace Bailey led the team on his 37 points with six rebounds and three blocks. The only other Rutgers player to finish in double-figures was Tyson Acuff with 13 points, four assists and three rebounds. Lathan Sommerville got close though, notching nine points with six rebounds in 27 minutes of work overall.
Why the Rutgers Scarlet Knights will win
- Rutgers has won 12 of its last 13 games at Jersey Mike’s Arena following a road win.
- Michigan has lost four of its last five away games when playing with a rest advantage.
- Michigan has lost the first half in three of its last four games at Jersey Mike’s Arena against non-AP-ranked opponents.
Why the Michigan Wolverines will win
- Michigan has won each of its last five day games.
- Rutgers has lost each of its last four day games against the Big Ten Conference.
- Rutgers has lost the first half in 12 of its last 13 day games against the Big Ten Conference.
Rutgers vs Michigan Prediction
I’m leaning toward Michigan. The Wolverines dispatched a decent Penn State team at home in their last outing, hitting 48.4 percent from the field and 42.9 percent (12-of-28) from 3-point range with just nine turnovers. Michigan got out-rebounded 34-26, but made up for it with 19 points off 18 Nittany Lions turnovers. That makes 76 or more points in 11 of the last 12 games for the Wolverines.
As for Rutgers, they shot a nice 57.1 percent from the floor with just eight turnovers in their latest win over a middling Northwestern squad. The Knights lost the rebounding battle 33-26 though, and went just 15-of-25 (60 percent) from the line. Rutgers has scored pretty well themselves lately, posting 72 or more points in five straight outings. The Knights will likely have to reach that threshold here in order to compete, but I don’t think they’ll quite cover.