The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are on the road tonight in Big Ten College Basketball action when they take on the Purdue Boilermakers. The game is scheduled for a 9:00 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on ESPNu. Currently the College Basketball Betting Odds for the game have the Boilermakers listed as the solid favorite to pick up the win.
Purdue has rebounded nice from a poor start to the season and now they are on a roll. Matt Painter's team has won three straight overall and seven of the last eight games. The Boilermakers, because of the most recent streak, are now back into the NCAA Tournament discussion and they have to keep winning. A loss here to Rutgers would certainly hinder their chances to make the Big Dance.
But how much stock should be put into Purdue sitting in third place in the Big Ten? The Boilers are just 2.5 games back of Wisconsin in the standings, but a win here tonight would tie them with Maryland for second place (and potentially Michigan State if the Spartans win tonight). While the Big Ten is not the same this year as it's been in the past, finishing between second and fourth in the conference should earn the Boilers a spot.
Rutgers has dropped 11 straight games overall, all in conference, since beating Wisconsin back in January. The free-fall by the Scarlet Knights has landed them in the Big Ten cellar, with a 2-13 record. Rutgers really has not had anything going for them all year and tonight they're going to be overmatched against Purdue.
The Boilermakers will pound the rock inside, feeding A.J. Hammons the ball. Purdue won the opening match between those two schools despite Rutgers posting a 35-point second half. Hammons led Purdue with 17 points and seven rebounds in that game, blocking four shots as well. Tonight, at home, he will bring the same type of intensity as Purdue avoids the upset and beats up on Rutgers.
Free Pick: Purdue 71, Rutgers 54
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