Northwestern Wildcats vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights Predictions, Expert College Basketball Picks 2/9/2020

Game: Northwestern Wildcats vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Date: Sunday, February 9, 2020

Location: Louis Brown Athletic Center in Piscataway, NJ

TV: BTN

Odds/Point Spread: Rutgers -11

Total/Over-Under: 128.5

The Northwestern Wildcats head to Louis Brown Athletic Center to take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Sunday, February 9, 2020. The opening line for this game has Rutgers as 11 point favorites.

Northwestern comes into this game with an overall record of 6-15. They currently have a point differential of -2.7 as they are averaging 65.1 points per game while giving up 67.8 per contest. Rutgers has an overall record of 16-7. They are averaging 70.3 points per game and surrendering 60.9, good for a point differential of 9.4.

Valuable Northwestern Wildcats Betting Trends

The Northwestern Wildcats are 8-11-1 against the spread this season

The Northwestern Wildcats are 9-10-1 against the over/under this year

Important Rutgers Scarlet Knights Betting Trends

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are 15-6-1 against the spread this season

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are 10-12-0 against the over/under this year

Key Northwestern Wildcats Injuries

01/06/20 G Anthony Gaines Shoulder is out for season

Key Rutgers Scarlet Knights Injuries

02/05/20 G Jacob Young Suspension is questionable

Player Spotlight

Miller Kopp comes into this game averaging 13.4 points per contest while playing 31.6 minutes per night this year. He grabs 3.7 rebounds per contest and distributes 1.1 assists per game. His FG percentage is 42% while his free throw percentage is 87%. Pat Spencer averages 11.0 points per contest in 28.4 minutes per game. He averages 3.8 assists per game and 3.8 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 46% for the season while his free throw percentage is 79%.

Player Spotlight

Ron Harper Jr. scores 11.4 points per contest while playing 27.6 minutes per game. He hauls in 5.8 rebounds per contest and has 1.1 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is at 74%. Akwasi Yeboah averages 10.1 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 22.9 minutes per game. He also brings in 4.7 rebounds per game and has 0.7 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is 75%.

Useful Team Statistics

Northwestern averages 65.1 points per contest, which is 316th in D-1. Their average scoring margin is -2.7 and their shooting percentage is 42% as a unit, which has them ranked 266th. From 3-point territory they shoot 32%, which is good for 269th in the nation. They average 33.8 boards per contest and 13.6 assists per game, which ranks them 261st and 138th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 327th with 11.2 per game. The Wildcats allow 67.8 points per contest, which is 138th in the NCAA. They also surrender a 42% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 128th and 210th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 35.8 rebounds a game which ranks 220th, and they allow 15.6 assists per game which puts them in 325th place in the country. They force 11.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 18th in Division 1.

Useful Team Statistics

Rutgers is 207th in the nation with 70.3 points per contest this season. They are 127th in the country in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 9.4. They shoot 30% from beyond the arc, which is good for 318th in the NCAA. They are 9th in D-1 in rebounding with 40.8 boards per contest and 176th in assists per game with 13.2. The Scarlet Knights are 226th in turnovers per contest with 12.8. The Scarlet Knights give up 60.9 points per game, which ranks them 14th in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 38% shooting percentage and a 31% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 13th and 70th in those defensive statistics. They rank 132nd with 11.9 dimes allowed per game and 126th with 34.0 boards surrendered per contest. The Scarlet Knights are 207th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 14.0 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Wildcats are 257th in the nation in offensive rating with 97.9. In terms of pace they are 309th in the country with 66.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 48% is 287th. As a team they are 277th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 51% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 234th in Division 1. Northwestern is 288th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Rutgers is 238th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.8 times per 100 possessions. The Scarlet Knights have an offensive rating of 102.1, which is ranked 163rd. They are 222nd in D-1 in pace with 68.8 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 49% is 223rd. As a unit they are 267th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 51% and they shoot 3-pointers on 30% of their shot attempts, ranking 312th in the country.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Northwestern +11

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