As of late this morning, most betting shops had Ohio St. (11-2 straight up, 7-6 against the spread) installed as a nine-point home favorite for tonight’s Big Ten showdown vs. Rutgers (8-4 SU, 5-7 ATS) at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. The total was 135 points, and the Scarlet Knights were +330 on the money line.
The Big Ten Network will provide television coverage.
The ‘under’ has hit in back-to-back Rutgers games to improve to 10-2 overall. I cashed another RU ‘under’ this past Saturday when it won a 59-58 decision at home vs. Stonehill. The 117 combined points stayed 20 points below the 137-point total.
Rutgers has one of the nation’s premier rim protectors in Cliff Omoruyi, who leads the Big Ten and is second in the nation with an average of 3.6 blocked shots per game. Omoruyi anchors an RU defense that’s ranked eighth nationally in field-goal percentage defense (37.4%) and 12th in scoring ‘D’ (61.4 points per game). KenPom has Rutgers ranked #16 nationally in defensive efficiency.
Rutgers is abysmal offensively yet again this season. The Scarlet Knights are ranked #241 out of 362 Division-1 programs in offensive efficiency, and they’re ranked #325 in scoring with their pedestrian 67.5 PPG average.
Rutgers throws up bricks galore, ranking #346 in FG percentage (39.7%), #326 in 3-point accuracy (29.3%) and #330 in free-throw percentage (64.7%).
The ‘under’ has cashed in two of Ohio St.’s last three games, but it should be 3-0 if not for the Buckeyes going to overtime their last time out. They beat West Va. 78-75 in OT with the 153 combined points handing ‘under’ backers a heartbreaker, as the combined score at the end of regulation, 130 points, would’ve easily remained South of the 146-point total.
Ohio St.’s two previous games had combined scores of 114 and 127 points.
The ‘under’ has been a winner in three straight head-to-head meetings between these Big Ten rivals. That’s the case despite the last encounter going to overtime.
Nevertheless, RU’s 68-64 OT win at The RAC last year saw the 132 combined points drop ‘under’ the 135-point total. The two prior meetings that went ‘under’ had combined scores of 133 and 130 points.
PREDICTION: I’m on ‘under’ 135 points.