The Rutgers Scarlet Knights (4-0) head down the I-95 for a Big Ten showdown against the Maryland Terrapins (4-1) at the Xfinity Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Rutgers-Maryland college basketball betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
The Scarlet Knights are No. 22 in the USA TODAY Sports Men’s College Basketball Coaches Poll.
Rutgers at Maryland: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 10 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Rutgers +125 (bet $100 to win $125) | Maryland -167 (bet $167 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Rutgers +2.5 (-110) | Maryland -2.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 138.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Rutgers at Maryland: Three things to know
- Rutgers won four straight home games to begin the season, including a 79-69 win as a 5-point favorite against Syracuse last Tuesday. G Ron Harper Jr. had a game-high 26 points on 9-for-13 shooting and leads the Scarlet Knights in points per game (22.3) and rebounds per game (7.5).
- Maryland got trounced 67-51 by Clemson as a 2-point road dog in its previous game. The Terrapins were down 38-15 at halftime due in large part to an uncharacteristically poor shooting day. Maryland shot just 40% from the field against Clemson but is 16th in the country in field-goal percentage on the year.
- The Scarlet Knights snapped an 8-game losing streak to the Terrapins since joining the Big Ten in 2014 with a 78-67 win in their last meeting. Rutgers covered the spread in three of its last four games against Maryland.
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Rutgers at Maryland: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Maryland 76, Rutgers 69
Money line (ML)
Given how Rutgers has played to start the year and Maryland losing its top two scorers from last year’s game against Scarlet Knights (one being PF Jalen Smith who was drafted by the Phoenix Suns), this is a sketchy line.
It makes a little more sense when you dig deeper. Maryland has an edge in both free-throw rate and 3-point rate. The Scarlet Knights are ranked 300th in free throw percentage and 188th in 3-point percentage.
The market is excusing Maryland from a 16-point whooping it took at the hands of Clemson last week because Rutgers isn’t nearly as tough defensively as Clemson. Furthermore, Rutgers has played only the 203rd-toughest schedule while Maryland’s strength of schedule is ranked No. 37, according to Sports-Reference.com.
GIMME MARYLAND (-167) for 1.5 units.
Against the spread (ATS)
As much of a sucker as I am for value, I’ll PASS on the spread. I’ll point to each team’s ATS record—Rutgers is 1-2-1 ATS and Maryland is 3-2 ATS—to strengthen my argument for the money line. The Terrapins are exceeding bookmakers’ expectations with a tougher schedule than the Scarlet Knights.
Over/Under (O/U)
Rutgers plays at the 84th-fastest pace in the country and averages nearly 10 field-goal attempts more per game than a Maryland team ranked 308th in pace.
The Scarlet Knights will push the pace of this game early and the Terrapins will go along with that because their shooting will get hot. I “LIKE” OVER 138.5 (-110) for 1 unit.
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