Rutgers vs. Michigan State Predictions, Odds

• January 5, 2020
• By David Schwab
• VegasInsider.com

The No. 14 Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the No. 17 Michigan State Spartans highlight Tuesday night’s Big Ten betting action in a 9 p.m. (ET) tip at the Breslin Center on ESPN2.

BETTING RESOURCES

• Expert Picks: Vegas Insiders
• Conference: Big Ten
• Venue: Breslin Center
• Location: East Lansing, Michigan
• Date: Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2020
• Time: 9:00 p.m.
• TV: ESPN2
• Bet: BetMGM | BetRivers | FanDuel | PointsBet |William Hill | Best Sportsbooks

WHERE TO BET RUTGERS-MICHIGAN STATE

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Rutgers-Michigan State Betting Odds

• Spread: Michigan State -1.5
• Money-Line: Michigan State -125 Rutgers +105
• Total: 149.5

Odds Subject to Change

Michigan State has been opened as a slight -2.5-point home favorite in this matchup with the betting line on the total set at 150.5 points. Rutgers has dropped two of its last three Big Ten games to fall to 7-2 straight-up on the year.

By covering as a three-point home underdog in a two-point loss to Iowa on Saturday, it is 5-1 against the spread through its last six games. The total has gone OVER in six of the nine games.

The Scarlet Knights have lost nine-straight games against Michigan State since joining the Big Ten. They are 4-5 ATS with the total going OVER in six of those previous nine meetings. Yet, they are 4-1 ATS in the last five matchups.

Michigan State snapped a SU three-game skid with Saturday’s 84-77 road win against Nebraska. However, it is now failed to cover in eight of its first 10 games while going 7-3 SU. The total has gone OVER in four of its last seven games.

The Spartans have won seven of their last eight home games SU with the total going OVER in nine of their last 13 games overall.

Betting Analysis – Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 7-2
• ATS: 5-3-1
• SU - Home: 6-1
• SU - Away: 1-1
• O/U: 6-2-1

The Scarlet Knights able to play Iowa tough at home on Saturday but struggles from the free throw line probably cost them the win.

Guard Ron Harper leads the team in scoring with 22.1 points per game. He is hitting 53.6% of his shots from the field and 48.3% of his three-point attempts. His percentage from the free throw line sinks to just 55.6%.

The Scarlet Knights, as a team, have four players averaging at least 10 PPG as part of an 80-point average. They have a very respectable field goal percentage (49.0) while shooting 39.3% from three-point range. The team percentage from the foul line is just 60.5%. Defensively, Rutgers is giving up an average of 71.7 PPG.

Betting Analysis – Michigan State Spartans

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 7-3
• ATS: 2-8
• SU - Home: 5-1
• SU - Away: 2-2
• O/U: 6-4

At 1-3 SU in Big Ten play after the tight win against Nebraska, there are still quite a few question marks with Michigan State. Aaron Henry scored a career-high 27 points in that game as the only real positive takeaway.

Henry has been the team’s leading scorer all season with 13.4 PPG. The junior forward failed to reach that average in all three previous losses. He is shooting 42.1% from the field, but he crossed the 60% mark during Saturday’s record performance.

Forward Joey Hauser is second in scoring with 12.3 points while leading the way in rebounds with 7.9 a game. The Spartans are averaging 79 PPG and shooting 45.1% from the floor.

At 38.7 rebounds overall, 33.7 are on the defensive end of the court. Michigan State has an inflated points-allowed average of 75.6.

Inside the Stats – Rutgers Scarlet Knights

• PS/G: 80 (66th)
• PA/G: 71.6 (211th)
• Off Rtg: 111.8 (40th)
• Def Rtg: 100 (217th)

Inside the Stats – Michigan State Spartans

• PS/G: 79 (76th)
• PA/G: 75.6 (277th)
• Off Rtg: 107.8 (93rd)
• Def Rtg: 103.1 (271st)

Key Players to Watch

• RUTG - Ron Harper, Jr. (22.1 PPG, 7 RPG)
• RUTG - Jacob Young (15.7 PPG, 5.2 APG)
• MSU - Aaron Henry (13.4 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.1 APG)
• MSU - Joey Hauser (12.2 PPG, 7.9 RPG)

Rutgers-Michigan State Predictions

I went against Michigan State on the road against Minnesota and cashed a winner. While the home team should be able to get past Rutgers SU on Tuesday night, my gut tells me to take the Scarlet Knights and the points.

Something is not quite right with Spartans right now and it is going to take a few more games to find their form. Trends favor the OVER in this series and that appears to be the way to go this time around.

Each team knows how to put points on the board. Each team has also struggled at times from keeping opposing teams from doing the exact same thing.

• Score Prediction: Michigan State 78 Rutgers 76
• Best Bets: Rutgers +2.5
• Best Bets: OVER 151

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