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The Northwestern Wildcats (12-3, 3-1 Big Ten) are hoping to extend their two-game winning streak on Wednesday as they play host to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (11-5, 3-2). Scoring could be a rarity as these are the top two defenses in the Big Ten.
Both teams are receiving votes in the AP Top 25 Poll after good starts in conference play. Rutgers is 5-1 outright and against the spread (ATS) over the last six games, while Northwestern is 7-1 and 5-3 ATS in the last eight games. Which offense will find enough success against an elite defense?
Let’s check the latest college basketball odds, stats, injury reports and college basketball lines for Rutgers vs Northwestern. We’ve plenty of NCAA basketball odds for you to consider.
Rutgers: Scoring Woes
Rutgers was enjoying its best stretch of the season from Dec. 17 to Jan. 5, winning five consecutive games while going 5-0 ATS. The Scarlet Knights grabbed back-to-back impressive wins over then-No. 1 Purdue (65-64) and Maryland (64-50) on Jan. 2 and 5. Both opponents were held to fewer than 50 field goal attempts and under 42% shooting.
On Sunday, Rutgers fell to Iowa 76-65 as 5½-point favorites. The Hawkeyes shot 44.6% from the floor while the Scarlet Knights shot 38.1%. An inconsistent offense continues to be a problem for Rutgers. There’s no denying the stingy defense, which ranks third in efficiency and fourth in allowed points per game. However, the offense is 131st in efficiency, outside the top 100 in shooting percentage and in the bottom fourth nationally of 3-point shooting.
After averaging 16.3 points from Dec. 23 to Jan. 2, lead scorer Cliff Omoruyi has totaled only 6.5 points per game in the last two. Omoruyi has another tough challenge ahead as Northwestern ranks third in opponent 2-point percentage.
Wildcats’ Uptick in Scoring
Northwestern has been perhaps the biggest surprise of the Big Ten. The Wildcats were expected to finish in the bottom three of the conference. Ahead of Wednesday’s game, Northwestern sits in second place with a 3-1 conference record. The Wildcats still have much to prove with +3300 odds to win the Big Ten.
Like Rutgers, Northwestern heavily relies on defense. It ranks ninth in defensive efficiency, compared to 162nd in offensive efficiency. In addition, the Wildcats rank ninth in opponent points per game and shooting percentage. On offense, Northwestern is in the bottom four percent of field goal percentage.
Since a 73-57 loss to Ohio State on New Year’s Day, the Wildcats defeated Illinois 73-60 and Indiana 84-83 in back-to-back games. Northwestern’s offense has been miles better, averaging 78.5 points in the last two compared to its 68.8 season average. Leading scorer Chase Audige (16 points) has averaged 20 points in the last two games.
Rutgers vs Northwestern Game Injuries
Rutgers vs Northwestern Head-to-Head
In the last five meetings, Rutgers is 4-1 outright and ATS. However, the Scarlet Knights are 2-3 in their last five trips to Evanston.
Rutgers vs Northwestern Game Information
- Game: Rutgers (11-5, 3-2) vs Northwestern (12-3, 3-1)
- Location: Welsh-Ryan Arena, Evanston, IL
- Day/Time: Wednesday, Jan. 11th, 9 p.m. ET
- Rutgers vs Northwestern Live Stream: TBS.com
Rutgers vs Northwestern Betting Lines
Rutgers vs Northwestern Picks & Prediction
This is a tough game to figure out. Both teams play an ugly brand of basketball with inefficient offenses and strong defenses. Neither team has an advantage against the opposing defense. For example, Northwestern’s perimeter defense is a clear concern, ranking 251st in allowed made 3-pointers per game. However, Rutgers ranks 279th in 3-point percentage.
Northwestern comes off its third-highest scoring total of the season while averaging over 78 points in the last two games. Stick with the hot offense and take the Wildcats to win outright.
Northwestern is listed at +105 in our Las Vegas college basketball lines. This means that if you wager $100 on Northwestern, you have a chance to win $105. Rutgers is -125, offering a chance to win $80 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives Northwestern a 48.78% chance to win, with Rutgers at 55.56%.
Rutgers vs Northwestern Trends
Rutgers vs Northwestern Edge
Rutgers vs Northwestern Results
Rutgers vs Northwestern Game Summary
