Rutgers vs Rider 12/18/21 College Basketball Picks, Predictions, Odds
Rider Broncs (3-8) vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (5-5)
December 18, 2021 5:00 pm EDT
The Line: Rutgers Scarlet Knights -17 / Rider Broncs +17; Over/Under: -131.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Rider Broncs and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights meet in college basketball action from Jersey Mike’s Arena on Saturday afternoon.
The Rider Broncs will look to snap a four-game losing streak after a 79-67 loss to Marist last time out. Dwight Murray Jr. leads the Broncs in scoring with 13.3 PPG along with 6.1 RPG and also in assists with 3.2 APG while Dimencio Vaughn has 12.8 PPG with 6.9 RPG this season as the only other double-digit scorer for Rider so far this season. Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson also has a team-high 7 RPG to lead the Broncs on the glass this season. As a team, Rider is averaging 64.8 PPG on 37% shooting from the field, 26.8% from three and 75.7% from the foul line while allowing 72.5 PPG on 41.4% shooting from the field and 34.1% from three this season.
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights will hope to bounce back from a 77-63 loss to Seton Hall last time out. Ron Harper Jr. leads the Scarlet Knights in scoring and rebounding with 15.8 PPG and 7.9 RPG while Clifford Omoruyi has 11.6 PPG with 6.7 RPG and Geo Baker has 11.2 PPG to make up the trio of double-digit scorers for Rutgers so far this season. Paul Mulcahy also leads the Scarlet Knights in assists with 4.1 APG as well this season. As a team, Rutgers is averaging 65.8 PPG on 40.5% shooting from the field, 28.9% from three and 67.8% from the foul line while allowing 67.2 PPG on 41.1% shooting from the field and 32.9% from three this season.
Rider is 2-10 ATS in their last 12 games overall and 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games following a loss while the over is 4-1 in their last 5 Saturday games. Rutgers is 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games against a team with a winning percentage below .400 and 1-5 ATS in their last 6 home games against a team with a road winning percentage below .400 while the over is 4-1 in their last 5 games overall.
We’ve seen the Scarlet Knights upend lesser teams for much of the season, but this isn’t the same dominant Rutgers team from last season. Rider’s not an easy team to feel comfortable backing, but this is simply a case of Rutgers getting too much respect. I’ll gladly take Rider and the points in this one.
