Ohio State at Rutgers College Basketball Picks & Predictions 1/14/2018

Sunday, January 14, 2018

Louis Brown Athletic Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Ohio State Buckeyes travel to Louis Brown Athletic Center to play the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Sunday, January 14, 2018. The opening line for this game has Ohio State as 5.5 point favorites.

Ohio State heads into this matchup with a mark of 14-4. They currently have a point differential of 11.6 as they are averaging 80.0 points per contest while giving up 68.4 per game. Rutgers has an overall record of 11-7. They are averaging 70.2 points per game and surrendering 61.7, good for a point differential of 8.5.

Valuable Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Trends

The Ohio State Buckeyes are 8-8 against the spread this season

The Ohio State Buckeyes are 5-11 against the over/under this year

Important Rutgers Scarlet Knights Betting Trends

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are 6-2 against the spread this season

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are 4-5 against the over/under this year

Key Ohio State Buckeyes Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Rutgers Scarlet Knights Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Keita Bates-Diop averages 20.3 points per game while playing 31.6 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 8.8 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.3 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 40% while his free throw percentage is at 82%. C.J. Jackson averages 13.6 points per game in 29.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 4.3 assists per contest and 4.1 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 45% for the year while his free throw percentage is 83%.

Player Spotlight

Corey Sanders averages 14.2 points per game while playing 31.7 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 4.6 rebounds per game and has 3.3 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 40% and his free throw percentage is at 74%. DeShawn Freeman averages 12 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 26.4 minutes per contest. He also averages 7.6 rebounds per contest and 0.9 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is 65%.

Useful Team Statistics

Ohio State averages 80.0 points per contest this season, which ranks them 65th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 11.6 and their shooting percentage is 50% as a team, which has them ranked 22nd. Behind the arc they shoot 38%, which is good for 72nd in the country. They average 36.7 rebounds per game and 15.6 assists per game, which ranks them 149th and 80th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 249th with 12.6 per game. The Buckeyes allow 68.4 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 89th in Division 1. They also allow a 41% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the arc, ranking them 66th and 141st in those defensive categories. Opponents average 32.6 rebounds a game which ranks 72nd and they give up 12.1 assists per contest, which puts them in 92nd place in college basketball. They force 13.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 200th in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Rutgers is 275th in the country with 70.2 points per game this year. They are 315th in D-1 in shooting at 41%, while their average scoring margin is 8.5. They shoot 29% from 3-point range, which is good for 340th in college basketball. They are 5th in the nation in rebounding with 42.4 boards per game, and 321st in assists per contest with 11.4. The Scarlet Knights are 331st in turnovers per game with 11.1. The Scarlet Knights surrender 61.7 points per contest, which ranks them 10th in the country. Their defense allows a 38% shooting percentage and a 31% average from 3-point range, ranking them 12th and 28th in those defensive statistics. They rank 82nd with 11.9 assists allowed per contest and 271st with 37.2 rebounds surrendered per game. The Scarlet Knights are 291st in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 15.5 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Buckeyes are 80th in the country in defensive rating with 96.5, and their offensive rating of 112.9 is ranked 46th. They are 197th in college basketball in pace with 70.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 56% is 30th. As a unit they are 35th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shot attempts, ranking 249th in D-1. Ohio State is 238th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17.4 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 48%, which is 98th in the country.

Advanced Statistics

Rutgers is 338th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 19.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 44%, which is 12th in the nation. The Scarlet Knights are 266th in the country in offensive rating with 100.2, and their defensive rating of 88.1 is ranked 6th. In terms of pace they are 252nd in Division 1 with 69.1 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 45% is 341st. As a team they are 345th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 48% and they shoot 3-pointers on 25% of their shots, ranking 348th in the nation.

Who will win tonight's Ohio State/Rutgers college basketball game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Rutgers +5.5

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