Purdue vs Rutgers Odds, Picks and Predictions: Can Boilermakers Avoid Another Disaster?

It’s not often the second-ranked team in the country should be concerned about the second-to-last-place team in their conference.
 
Yet that should be the case Sunday, as the Purdue Boilermakers visit the Rutgers Scarlet Knights as 9.5-point favorites in the college basketball odds.  
 
Since the start of this decade, Rutgers has taken five of seven matchups, including statement-jarring upsets in each of the last two seasons, with Purdue sitting as the top-ranked team in the nation each time.
 
With Purdue’s only two losses on the year away from home, can Rutgers stay spoiler Sunday? Read below for my free Purdue vs. Rutgers preview, complete with my free college basketball picks.

Purdue vs Rutgers best odds

Purdue vs Rutgers picks and predictions

The Purdue Boilermakers are currently second in the Big Ten standings, looking up at No. 13 Wisconsin, who’s sitting at 8-1. 
 
Purdue improved to 7-2 in conference play with a 99-67 demolition of Michigan, giving them four wins in a row, all of which came by double digits.
 
A loss to Nebraska is its only blemish over the last 12, and that includes wins over then-ninth-ranked Illinois and previous No. 1 Arizona.
 
The Boilermakers feature a Top-10 offense that puts up 85.8 points per game. They shoot it at 49.1% (17th), including a blistering 40.6% mark from the 3-point line, which ranks third. Purdue’s offense also ranks inside the top 20 in free throw attempts and makes, while their 19.1 assists sit fifth in the NCAA.
 
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are coming off an 86-63 clubbing at the hands of Illinois, giving them losses in four of their last six contests. It’s also the third time in four games the Scarlet Knights have scored 63 points or fewer.
 
Their numbers aren’t pretty: Rutgers averages 68.3 points per game, a lowly 313th in the nation, while shooting 39% from the field, a number that ranks outside of the Top 350 in college hoops.
 
They’ll be going up against an above-average defense that allows 69.2 points per game, holding opponents to 40.5% shooting from the field and 30.9% from distance, both inside the Top 60.
 
Perhaps the most important number for bettors is the recent results at Jersey Mike’s Arena, where the Boilermakers have dropped three straight. While the Scarlet Knights are 5-2 against Purdue in the last seven, they have gone an impressive 6-0-1 against the spread. 
 
Nothing about this makes any sense, but until Purdue dominates one of these matchups, I’ll ride with Rutgers’ recent head-to-head history.

My best bet: Purdue +10.5 (-110 at Caesars)

Purdue vs Rutgers same-game parlay

Rutgers +10.5

Zach Edey Over 20.5 points

Lance Jones Over 2.5 made threes

+800 at Caesars

We’re targeting a pair of prominent Boilermakers to perform, as they try to break this road skid against Rutgers. 

Canadian big man Zach Edey leads the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 22.9 points per game, one of two players in the conference to average 20+ points. He’s coming off a 16-point performance against Michigan, though he played only 26 minutes due to the blowout.
 
That might have done bettors a favor, likely shaving some off that number, which currently sits at 20.5 points, as Edey’s streak of scoring 30+ ended at three games. He’s been the leading scorer for Purdue in six of their nine conference games, averaging 24.1 points, and I wouldn't expect anything less against Rutgers.
 
We’ll wrap this three-leg SGP with the sharpshooting of senior guard Lance Jones. The Southern Illinois transfer is coming off his best long-distance shooting performance of the year, drilling 5-for-9 in their win over Michigan.
 
He has hit 3+ triples in each of his last four games, shooting a sharp 15-for-32, a 46.9% clip. With Edey the priority, Jones should be able to get some good looks against Rutgers.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Purdue vs Rutgers spread and Over/Under analysis

There are just a few books keeping this spread at 9.5 points. Most sites have settled at 10 or more points, with none higher than 10.5.
 
Purdue is one of the top cover teams, going 13-6-1 against the spread, while Rutgers checks in at 8-10 ATS. 
 
The Scarlet Knights have been the cover wager in this one, going a sizzling 6-0-1 ATS against Purdue in the last seven meetings.
 
The total has seen a high of 142.5, with the books keeping the total above 140 points. Purdue has seen the Over go 14-6-0 in their 20 games. The Over has hit just six times in 18 Rutgers games.

Purdue vs Rutgers betting trend to know

The Over has hit in eight of the last 10 head-to-head meetings. Find more college basketball betting trends for Purdue vs. Rutgers.

Purdue vs Rutgers game info

Purdue vs Rutgers key injuries

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