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The Rutgers Scarlet Knights (5-1) and Alabama Crimson Tide (5-1) are lined up for a Wednesday-night neutral-site affair as part of the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas. Tip-off at MGM Grand Garden Arena is set for 10 p.m. ET (TBS). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college basketball odds around the Rutgers vs. Alabama odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.
Rutgers opened its week in Las Vegas with a Tuesday 85-84 overtime win over over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Freshman G Dylan Harper scored 36 points in the push on a -1 spread. The win marked a bounce-back for Rutgers which had been upset as an 11 1/2-point favorite Sunday vs. Kennesaw State Owls.
Alabama, which is No. 9 in the USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll, defeated the No. 7 Houston Cougars 85-80 in OT on Tuesday tournament game. The Crimson Tide prevailed in a contest that saw both sides shoot under 37% from the floor.
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Rutgers vs. Alabama odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of college basketball odds Lines last updated at 3:31 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Rutgers +450 (bet $100 to win $450) | Alabama -650 (bet $650 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Rutgers +10.5 (-105) | Alabama -10.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 162.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Rutgers vs. Alabama picks and predictions
Prediction
Alabama 88, Rutgers 76
Moneyline
No interest. PASS.
Against the spread
UA is 6-1 over its last 7 neutral-site games. And the up-tempo Tide figures to be a problem for a youthful Rutgers team playing on a second straight night.
Rutgers’ first 5 foes this November were all ranked outside the BartTorvivk top-150. And the Knights, which play at a slightly-above-average tempo, have mostly seen plodding opponents so far. Alabama — 12th in BartTorvick’s pace ratings — should present all Rutgers can handle and more in that department.
The Crimson Tide are the better rebounding team. Their ability to get second-chance points, against a Rutgers team that has been below average in yielding such, is a big differentiator here.
BET ALABAMA -10.5 (-115).
Over/Under
The Over is 4-1 in Rutgers’ last 5 games and the Over has cashed in Alabama’s last 2 games with a margin of 33 1/2 points (combined) to spare.
The pace, second bites on put-backs, and free-throw rates cook this one into the 160s unless either has a significant off shooting night.
Consider a partial-unit play on the OVER 162.5 (-110).
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