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College Basketball

NCAA Basketball Wednesday’s Big Ten Odds and Betting Preview for Feb. 26, 2020

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
4 minute read
The Big Ten takes center stage in two featured betting matchups on Wednesday’s college basketball slate.

Out in State College, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights will be on the road against the No. 16 Penn State Nittany Lions. Later in the night, the No. 9 Maryland Terrapins will face the Minnesota Golden Gophers in Minneapolis.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights at No. 16 Penn State Nittany Lions
(Big Ten Network, 7:00 p.m. ET)

Opening Odds: Penn State -6, Total 137.5

Betting Matchup

Rutgers has just two straight-up wins in its last seven games as part of its steady slide in conference play. With Sunday’s 79-71 road loss to Wisconsin as a 5 ½-point underdog, its record against the spread has slid to 2-5 over the last seven outings. The total has gone OVER in four of the last five games. The Scarlet Knights are 18-10 SU (16-10-1 ATS) overall with a 9-8 record in the Big Ten. Rutgers is averaging just 69.8 points per game this season. They have scored less fewer points than that average in four of their last seven games.

The Lions’ chances to win the Big Ten regular season title took a big hit with back-to-back losses (SU and ATS) to Illinois at home and to Indiana on the road. This skid snapped a SU eight-game run while going 7-0-1 ATS. The total has stayed UNDER in seven of their last nine games. Penn State (20-7 SU, 15-10-2 ATS) is now 10-6 SU in Big Ten play. Led by Lamar Stevens’ 18.0-point scoring average, the Lions have a trio of players scoring in double figures. The senior forward scored 29 points in Saturday’s 68-60 loss to Indiana.

Betting Trends

-- The Scarlet Knights are 2-8 SU in their last 10 road games but they have been able to cover in five of the last seven games on the road. The total has gone OVER in three of their last four road games.

-- The Nittany Lions have a SU 8-2 record in their last 10 games played at home while going 3-1-1 ATS in the last five home games. The total has stayed UNDER in three of their last four home games.

-- With the earlier 72-61 win this season, Rutgers is 3-2 SU in its last five games against Penn State with a 4-1 mark ATS. The total has stayed UNDER in the last four games between the two.

No. 9 Maryland Terrapins at Minnesota Golden Gophers
(Big Ten Network, 9:00 p.m. ET)

Opening Odds: Minnesota -1, Total 133.5

Betting Matchup

At 12-4 SU in conference play, Maryland is closing in on the Big Ten regular season title. It did not help its cause with Saturday’s 79-72 loss to Ohio State as a three-point road underdog. This snapped a SU nine-game winning streak. The Terrapins (22-5 SU, 14-13 ATS) slip to 2-4 ATS over their last six games with the total going OVER in six of their last nine outings.

Senior guard Anthony Cowan Jr. remains the team’s leading scorer this season with 16.4 PPG. He was held to just 10 points in Saturday’s loss.

The Golden Gophers (13-13 SU, 14-10-2 ATS) snapped a SU three-game skid with Saturday’s 83-57 road victory against Northwestern. They closed as four-point favorites to cover for just the second time over their past seven games. They are 3-5-1 ATS in their last nine games and the total has stayed UNDER in seven of those nine contests. Daniel Oturu had a big outing in Saturday’s lopsided win with 22 points and 12 rebounds. The senior center has averaged a double-double this season with 19.7 points and 11.4 rebounds a game.

Betting Trends

-- The Terrapins have won four of their last five road games SU with the total going OVER in four of those contests. They have covered ATS in five of their last six games on the road.

-- The Golden Gophers are 1-3 both SU and ATS over their last four road games with the total staying UNDER in all four games. This is part of a SU 7-3 (6-4 ATS) record in their last 10 games on the road.

-- Maryland comes into the only meeting this season with the 7-2 edge both SU and ATS in its last nine games against Minnesota. The total has gone OVER in three of the last five meetings.

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