Rutgers vs. Clemson Predictions, Odds, Preview

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

Mar. 19, 2021

Dave Schwab
NCAA BK Expert
VegasInsider.com

Rutgers vs. Clemson Predictions

Rutgers gets the slight nod in this opening round Big Ten/ACC matchup as a 1.5-point favorite. The betting line for Friday’s total is set at 126 points in a slated 9:20 p.m. (ET) start on TBS.

The strength of schedule could be the deciding factor in this game. Rutgers was able to hold its own in the stacked Big Ten this season while the Tigers had a much easier path to this tournament through the watered-down ACC. Take the battle-tested Scarlet Knights to cover.

I would also go with the UNDER on an already low total. Neither team is an offensive power and they both rely heavily on defense to keep games close.

• Score Prediction: Rutgers 63 Clemson 60
• Best Bets - Side: Rutgers -1.5
• Best Bets - Total: UNDER 126

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Rutgers vs. Clemson Betting Odds

Line Movements

• Spread: Rutgers -1.5
• Total: 126
• Money-Line: Rutgers -110 Clemson -110

Odds to Win NCAA Tournament

• Rutgers 66/1
• Clemson 80/1

Odds to Win Midwest Region

• Rutgers 16/1
• Clemson 25/1

Odds Subject to Change

First Round Predictions

Friday's Early Action - Mar. 19 7 vs. 10 3 vs. 14 1 vs. 16 6 vs. 11 2 vs. 15 1 vs. 16 8 vs. 9 5 vs. 12

Handicapping Rutgers vs. Clemson

The Scarlet Knights went an even 10-10 in conference play as part of an overall record of 15-11. They beat most of the teams they were supposed to along the way. The edge in this matchup could lie Rutgers’ scoring balance with five players averaging at least eight points a game.

Clemson went 11-1 at home this season but it only won two of the seven games it played on the road. A concerning loss to Miami in the ACC Tournament as an eight-point favorite is another red flag for Friday’s game. With a scoring average of just 65.3 points per game, the Tigers are going to have to rely heavily on their defense to slow down Rutgers.

• Region: Midwest
• Matchup: 7 vs. 10
• Venue: Bankers Life Fieldhouse
• Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
• Date: Mar. 19, 2021
• TV-Time: TBS - 9:20 p.m. (ET)

Handicapping Resources: March Madness Central | NCAA Consensus Picks

Betting Stats & Analysis - Rutgers Scarlet Knights

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

Rutgers is just 4-16 straight-up in its last 20 games against the ACC. It has also failed to cover in seven of its last nine games played on a Friday.

The total has stayed UNDER in six of the Scarlet Knights’ last nine games. However, it has gone OVER in nine of their last 13 games played in March.

Seed: 10-
Conference: Big Ten
Bid: At-large

• SU: 15-11
• ATS: 13-12-1
• O/U: 12-14

• Current Form (Last 5): 3-2 SU, 3-2 ATS, 3-2 O/U
• Notable Wins: Syracuse, Maryland, Illinois, Purdue, Michigan State

• PS/G: 70 (210th)
• PA/G: 68.2 (112th)
• Off Rtg: 101.6 (186th)
• Def Rtg: 99.1 (141st)

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Betting Stats & Analysis - Clemson Tigers

Clemson failed to cover against the spread in four of its last six games. It is 5-10 ATS in its last 15 games against a team from the Big Ten. It was 3-5 ATS in eight games closing as an underdog this season.

The total went OVER in four of the Tigers’ last seven games. The total stayed UNDER in their last three games played away from home.

Seed: 7
Conference: ACC
Bid: At-large

• SU: 16-7
• ATS: 11-11-1
• O/U: 11-11-1

• Current Form (Last 5): 3-2 SU, 2-3 ATS, 2-3 O/U
• Notable Wins: Purdue, Maryland, Alabama, FSU, Louisville, UNC, Syracuse, Georgia Tech

• PS/G: 65.3 (312th)
• PA/G: 62 (14th)
• Off Rtg: 100.1 (213th)
• Def Rtg: 95 (58th)

First Round Predictions

Friday's Late Action - Mar. 19 4 vs. 13 8 vs. 9 2 vs. 15 4 vs. 13 7 vs. 10 6 vs. 11 3 vs. 14 5 vs. 12

Key Players to Watch

Guards’ Ron Harper Jr. (15.4 points) and Jacob Young (14.4 points) were Rutgers’ top scorers this season. The each shot better than 45% from the field. Center Myles Johnson led the team in rebounds (8.7) with Young adding a team-high 3.5 assists a game.

Forward Aamir Simms led the Tigers across the board in points (13.3), rebounds (6.2) and assists (2.7). He shot 54.3% from the field and 40.7% from three-point range. Guards’ Al-Amir Dawes and Nick Honor added a combined 17.4 PPG.

• RUTG - Ron Harper Jr. (15.4 PPG), 5.9 RPG)
• RUTG - Jacob Young (14.4 PPG)

• CLEM - Aamir Simms (13.3 PPG, 6.2 RPG)
• CLEM - Al-Amir Dawes (9 PPG)

Head-to-Head - Rutgers vs. Clemson

These two teams played a home-and-home series in the 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 seasons. The road team won each time both SU and ATS. The total was split 1-1.

March Madness Records & Trends

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

• All-Time Record: 5-7
• Last Appearance: 1991
• Deepest Run: Final Four (1976)

-- Rutgers has lost six of its last ight NCAA Tournament games.
-- Rutgers has failed to reach the Sweet 16 in four of its last six NCAA Tournament appearances.
-- Rutgers has gone UNDER the point total in six straight games after going OVER the point total the game prior.

Clemson Tigers

• All-Time Record: 11-12
• Last Appearance: 2018
• Deepest Run: Sweet 16 (2018)

-- Clemson has failed to reach the Sweet 16 in five of its last six NCAA Tournament appearances.
-- Clemson has failed to win its first game in four of its last six NCAA Tournament appearances.
-- Clemson has been eliminated by a Big 12 school in two straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
-- Clemson has covered the spread in three of its last four games when playing on a neutral court.

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