Go With Rutgers to Cover as Heavy Favorites

When looking at the NCAA basketball predictions, Rutgers is listed as a 15½-point favorite.

Rutgers has been favored in each of its first five games this season and has covered in each of the last five games. The Scarlet Knights are 12-1 outright in the last 13 games as a double-digit favorite and 11-2 against the spread in those games.

Saint Peter’s has lost its last five games as double-digit underdogs and is 1-4 against the Las Vegas odds in those matchups.

Rutgers is 4-0 at home this season and the Scarlet Knights are 18-6 at home over the last two seasons.

Corey Washington missed the last game for Saint Peter’s

For Rutgers, Austin Williams is questionable with a knee injury while Mawot Mag, Emmanuel Ogbole and Jeremiah Williams are out.

The Rutgers-Saint Peter’s matchup is one of six games on Monday listed by our sportsbook with a double-digit line on Monday.

Saint Peter’s Coming Up Empty

The offense for Saint Peter’s is, in a word, offensive.

The Peacocks rank outside the top 300 among Division I teams in scoring offense, field-goal percentage, assists per game and defensive rebounds per game. They are also committing 22 fouls per game.

Leading scorer Latrell Reid did make 6 of his 11 shots the last time out. Saint Peter’s is one of the best free-throw shooting teams and, thanks to missing so many shots, is in the top 25 nationally in offensive rebounds.

Saint Peter’s is 6-2 against the college basketball odds in its last eight games against Rutgers, with the Peacocks covering in five of the last seven road games against Rutgers.

Hyatt Stepping Up for Scarlet Knights

After starting half the games a season ago, senior Aundre Hyatt has moved into a full-time starting role. He has scored in double figures in his last four games. Sophomore Derek Simpson joins 6-foot-11 senior Cliff Omoruyi and freshman Gavin Griffiths as the double-digit scorers for the Scarlet Knights.

Back at it 🏀#TheKnighthood pic.twitter.com/t810boAPzV

— Rutgers Men’s Basketball 🏀 (@RutgersMBB) November 27, 2023

Keep an eye on the status of Hartford transfer Austin Williams as he started two of the three games that he played in.

The Las Vegas college basketball odds total has gone under in four of the last five games played by Rutgers and in five of the last seven games played at home.

Go With the Scarlet Knights To Take Care of Business

It was just a couple of years ago when Saint Peter’s stunned the college basketball world with an improbable run in the NCAA Tournament. That seems like ages ago when looking at the current state of the program.

Rutgers is hardly an offensive juggernaut but the Scarlet Knights rank 10th nationally in scoring defense. The Scarlet Knights allow only 58.6 points on 36.8% shooting. We would stay away from the 122½-point total even if seven of the last 10 games played by Saint Peter’s did finish over the total. Certainly, there isn’t much of a reward going with Rutgers at -1400 to win the game outright.

It should be hard for Saint Peter’s to get much done offensively and look for Rutgers to cover when looking at the NCAA picks today

College Basketball Pick: Rutgers -15½

Saint Peter’s vs Rutgers Betting Lines

Saint Peter’s vs Rutgers Game Information

• Game: Saint Peter’s (1-3) vs Rutgers (4-1)
• Location: Jersey Mike’s Arena, Piscataway, N.J.
• Date/Time: Monday, Nov. 27, 7 p.m. ET
• Saint Peter’s vs Rutgers Live Stream: TBS.com

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