The third-ranked Purdue Boilermakers will look to continue their home dominance when they take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in a key Big Ten battle on Thursday. The Scarlet Knights (14-11, 6-8 Big Ten), who are 1-3 against AP Top 25 teams this season, will look to improve on their 3-6 road mark. The Boilermakers (23-3, 12-3 Big Ten), who are 13-0 on their home court in 2023-24, will look to get back on track after falling 83-79 at Ohio State on Sunday. Rutgers had a four-game winning streak snapped at Minnesota on Sunday with an 81-70 defeat.
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind. The Boilermakers are 14.5-point favorites in the latest Rutgers vs. Purdue odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 139.5. Before making any Purdue vs. Rutgers picks, be sure to see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters Week 16 of the 2023-24 season on a 136-89 roll on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to last season, returning nearly $2,500 for $100 players. It is also off to a sizzling 25-13 start on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Rutgers vs. Purdue and revealed its CBB picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for Purdue vs. Rutgers:
Rutgers vs. Purdue spread: Purdue -14.5Rutgers vs. Purdue over/under: 139.5 pointsRutgers vs. Purdue money line: Rutgers +875, Purdue -1515RUT: The Scarlet Knights have hit the game total under in 21 of their last 32 games (+8.85 units)PUR: The Boilermakers have hit the money line in 15 of their last 16 games at home (+12.05 units)Rutgers vs. Purdue picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Purdue can cover
Sophomore guard Braden Smith has been on fire of late, scoring 10 points or more in each of the past seven games. In the 68-60 win at Rutgers on Jan. 28, Smith poured in 19 points, while grabbing six rebounds and dishing out three assists. He registered a double-double, his fifth of the season, with 11 points and 16 assists in a 105-96 overtime win over Northwestern on Jan. 31. In 26 games, all starts, he is averaging 12.8 points, 7.2 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 33.3 minutes of play.
Sophomore guard Fletcher Loyer is one of four Boilermakers who are averaging at least 10 points per game. In 26 games, all starts, he is averaging 10.5 points, two rebounds and 1.6 assists. He has scored in double figures 14 times, including a season-high 27 points twice. He scored 27 points and added four steals in a 92-84 win over Arizona on Dec. 16. He also scored 27 with six rebounds and three steals in a 71-67 victory over Tennessee on Nov. 21. See which team to pick here.
Why Rutgers can cover
Junior guard Jeremiah Williams has made an impact since joining the team earlier this month. The former Temple standout is averaging 13.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, four assists and one block in five starts. He has scored in double figures in four of those games, including an 18-point, seven-assist and five-rebound performance in a 78-56 win over Wisconsin on Feb. 10. He is coming off a nine-point, five-rebound and four-assist effort in the loss at Minnesota on Sunday.
Senior center Clifford Omoruyi has been a force inside for the Scarlet Knights. He is coming off a 19-point and eight-rebound effort at Minnesota on Sunday. He has reached double-digit scoring in 13 of 25 starts this season and has registered nine double-doubles. He nearly had a triple-double in the win over Wisconsin, scoring 13 points, grabbing 13 boards and blocking eight shots. For the season, he is averaging 11.2 points, nine rebounds and 3.3 blocks in 28 minutes of action. See which team to pick here.
How to make Rutgers vs. Purdue picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 140 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread has all the value. You can see the picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Rutgers vs. Purdue, and which side of the spread has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model on a 25-13 roll on top-ranked college basketball spread picks.
