Rutgers vs No. 8 Michigan State Preview, Odds, Predictions (March 5)
- The Scarlet Knights have struggled on the road with a 2-8 record.
- The Spartans are rolling with four consecutive wins.
- This marks the 18th all-time matchup between the two Big Ten squads.
One of the biggest games on the March 5 schedule will happen in the Big Ten when the No. 8 Michigan State Spartans host the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. The Spartans stand out as a dominant favorite, showing how the Scarlet Knights have their work cut out of them in the conference duel.
How to Watch
- When: Thursday, March 5, 8 pm ET
- Where: Breslin Center, East Lansing, Michigan
- How to Watch: FS1
NCAA Matchup Odds & Lines
| Team | Odds | Spread | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rutgers | -112 | +19.5 | O141.5 |
| Michigan State | -108 | -19.5 | U141.5 |
Game Preview
The Scarlet Knights (12-17, 5-13 Big Ten) have lost seven of their last 10 games, falling down to the bottom half of the conference standings. Tariq Francis leads the team this season in scoring (16.6 points per game), with a six-point lead on second place. He also paces the squad with 80 assists and 154 field goals. On another note, Emmanuel Ogbole stands out on the defensive side of the ball with 6.2 rebounds per game and 34 total blocks this season.
The No. 8 Spartans (24-5, 14-4 Big Ten) have plenty of momentum with a four-game winning streak, beating the likes of UCLA, Ohio State, Purdue, and Indiana. The team’s rebounding margin of 12.0 is third best nationally and the team also leads the Big Ten in fastbreak points (16.17) and is second in the league in both offensive and defensive rebounding. Jeremy Fears is one of the nation’s top point guards, leading the country with 9.1 assists per game. He boasts a 4.26 assist/turnover ratio that is fourth nationally, while leading the team at 15.1 points per game. Jaxon Kohler comes next is the team’s top rebounder, being second in the league at 9.2 boards per contest.
Rutgers vs Michigan State Head-to-Head
The two programs have had 17 meetings in their history, and the result is 14-3 for the Spartans. The last matchup was in January this year when Michigan State won 88-79 at home.
Rutgers vs Michigan State Predictions
Rutgers is in the bottom half of the conference standings, having poor form that doesn’t bode well for them against Michigan State. It gets even worse when the Spartans are riding high with a solid win streak, wanting to make sure they don’t drop any home games as conference play nears its end. Our betting pick here is the Spartans to defend a 19.5-point spread.
- Free NCAAB pick:Â Michigan State Spartans -19.5
