The Rutgers Scarlet Knights (7-2 overall, 3-2 Big Ten) visit the Michigan State Spartans (7-3, 1-3) Tuesday for a 9 p.m. ET tip. Below, we analyze the Rutgers-Michigan State college basketball betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
The Scarlet Knights are No. 14 in the USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll. The Spartans dropped out of the Top 25 after losing three of their last four games.
Rutgers at Michigan State: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:05 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Rutgers -115 (bet $115 to win $100) | Michigan State -105 (bet $105 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Rutgers -1.5 (-105) | Michigan State +1.5 (-115)
- Over/Under: 151.5. (O: -110 | U: -110)
Rutgers at Michigan State: Three things to know
- Rutgers has alternated wins and losses over its last four games, recently suffering a heartbreaker at home to then-No. 11 and now-No. 7 Iowa 77-75 Saturday. In a nip-and-tuck battle that had six lead changes in the final 2 minutes, the Scarlet Knights, who covered as 3.5-point underdogs, were done in by their free-throw shooting. They finished 4-for-12 from the line, including 3-for-9 in the second half. Rutgers senior G Jacob Young scored a team-high 17 points, and junior C Myles Johnson added 13 points with a team-high 10 rebounds. Junior G Ron Harper Jr.‘s 22.1 points per game lead four Scarlet Knights in double figures.
- Michigan State snapped a three-game skid with an 84-77 victory at Nebraska Saturday but failed to cover as an 8-point favorite. Junior F Aaron Henry scored a career-high 27-points as the Spartans beat the Cornhuskers for a seventh consecutive time. Henry (13.4 PPG) and junior F Joey Hauser (12.3 PPG) are the only two Spartans averaging more than 10 points. Hauser is MSU’s top rebounder (7.9 RPG), and Henry leads in assists (4.1 APG), steals (1.6 SPG) and blocks (1.3 BPG).
- The two Big Ten rivals met only once last season with Michigan State claiming a 77-65 home victory. Rutgers covered the spread as a 14.5-point underdog.
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Rutgers at Michigan State: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Michigan State 75, Rutgers 69
Money line (ML)
MICHIGAN STATE (-105) is the STRONGEST PLAY – 1½ times your usual wager. The Spartans are 10-0 all-time vs. the Scarlet Knights, including 9-0 since Rutgers joined the Big Ten in 2014. Plus, Michigan State is 6-0 at home vs. Rutgers, winning by an average of 17.8 points.
I love trends, so while the Scarlet Knights have definitely been the better team up to this point, I’m putting my trust in head coach Tom Izzo. He’ll have the Spartans ready, prepared and focused.
Against the spread (ATS)
I’m PASSING on the spread but wouldn’t blame you if you prefer to take the points with the Spartans (+1.5, -115) instead of playing the money line where we would need a straight-up win. Your +1.5 bet cashes even if MSU loses by 1 point.
Since I’m predicting a Spartans win, I’m not going to worry about the possibility of a Michigan State 1-point loss.
ATS records: Rutgers 5-3-1 | Michigan State 2-8
Over/Under (O/U)
The 151.5 O/U seems high, but Rutgers averages 80.0 PPG and Michigan State is scoring at a 79.0 PPG clip. The Knights allow 71.6 PPG and the Spartans allow 75.6 PPG.
With the Scarlet Knights struggling from the charity stripe, shooting an abysmal 60.5% to rank 329th in the country, I’ll wager a HALF-UNIT on the UNDER 151.5 (-110).
O/U records: Rutgers 6-2-1 | Michigan State 6-4
Want some action on this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.
| Johnny’s 2020-21 CBK record / Strongest plays | 19-17 / 7-10 |
| 2019-20 CBK record / Strongest plays | 5-3 / 5-0 |
| 2021 overall record (all sports) / Strongest plays | 12-5 / 7-2 |
| 2020 overall record (all sports) / Strongest plays | 178-147-4 / 87-61-1 |
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