Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs Houston Cougars Prediction, 3/21/2021 College Basketball Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs Houston Cougars

Date: Sunday, March 21, 2021

Location: Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN

TV: TBS

Odds/Point Spread: Rutgers (+8.5)

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights (16-11) head to Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday where they'll take on the Houston Cougars (25-3) in the NCAA Tournament. Rutgers opens this contest as 8.5-point underdogs. The over/under opens at 131.5.

Rutgers will take the court with a mark of 16-11 on the campaign. The Scarlet Knights are connecting on 30.8% on 3-point shots (165 of 535) and 63.3% from the charity stripe. They are averaging 69.6 points per game (223rd in the nation) while shooting 44.9% from the floor. They are turning it over 11.4 times per contest and as a squad they are committing 17.5 fouls on a nightly basis. As a unit, Rutgers is snagging 35.5 boards per game and has accumulated 370 dimes on the season, which ranks 75th in the country in terms of passing. Defensively, the Scarlet Knights are forcing their opponents into 13.0 turnovers per game while drawing 16.1 fouls. The Scarlet Knights are giving up an opponent shooting percentage of 41.7% (648 of 1,553) and they surrender 36.3 rebounds per game as a squad. They rank 292nd in college hoops in giving up assists to their opponents with 366 relinquished so far this year. They are relinquishing 32.1% on three-point shots and they are 104th in the country in opponents points per game (67.8).

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights stepped onto the hardwood against the Clemson Tigers and walked away with a win by a score of 60-56 in their last contest. Rutgers ended the contest having earned a 39.7% FG percentage (23 out of 58) and converted 8 of 30 shots from downtown. From the charity stripe, the Scarlet Knights made 6 of 9 shots for a rate of 66.7%. Concerning getting rebounds, they compiled 36 with 12 of them being of the offensive sort. They also recorded 11 dimes in this contest while forcing 10 turnovers and having 6 steals. Regarding the defense, Rutgers allowed 35.6% from the field on 21 of 59 shooting. Clemson earned 14 assists and had 6 steals for the matchup. Furthurmore, Clemson had 26 rebounds (8 offensive, 18 defensive) and added 3 rejections. Clemson finished shooting 88.9% from the free throw line by converting 8 of 9 attempts. They also buried 6 of 19 tries from beyond the perimeter.

Geo Baker is one guy who played a role in this contest. He scored 13 points on 5 out of 11 shooting. He was on the court for 36 minutes and also grabbed 1 board. Baker went 45.5% from the floor and distributed 3 dimes. Someone else that had an impact in the game for the Scarlet Knights was Jacob Young. He grabbed 3 rebounds in 34 minutes played. He walked away from this one shooting 71.4% from the field for the game by hitting 5-of-7 (13 points). When the time ran out, Young had accumulated 1 assist.

Houston has a win-loss record of 25-3 so far this season. Houston has accumulated 2,183 points on the year (78.0 per contest) and they grab 39.8 rebounds per game. The Cougars are committing 18.1 fouls per contest and they connect on 74.1% from the charity stripe. As an offense, the Cougars are shooting 44.4% from the field, which is ranked 163rd in the nation. They are dishing out assists 13.6 times per contest (139th in the country) and they lose possession by turning the ball over 10.8 times per contest. The Cougars on the defensive side of the court are 2nd in the nation in points given up per game with 57.8. They have forced 14.6 turnovers per game and allow teams to shoot 37.1% from the field (1st in college hoops). The Houston defense allows 27.5% on three-point shots (147 of 535) and opponents are making 65.9% of their shots from the free throw line. They have conceded 9.7 dimes and 31.2 total rebounds per game, which ranks 10th and 31st in college basketball.

The last time they took the court, the Houston Cougars walked away with a victory by a final of 87-56 when they faced the Cleveland State Vikings. The Cougars were able to corral 22 defensive rebounds and 16 offensive rebounds for a total of 38 for the game. They gave up possession of the ball 0 times, while getting 7 steals for this game. The Vikings earned 19 fouls in the game which took the Cougars to the free throw line for a total of 29 tries. They were able to knock down 22 of those for a percentage of 75.9%. When it comes to shots from distance, Houston made 7 of 25 attempts (28.0%). When the game finished, the Cougars walked away from this one shooting 29 for 61 from the floor which gave them a shooting percentage of 47.5%. The Cougars permitted the Vikings to bury 17 of 44 attempts from the field which gave them a rate of 38.6% for the matchup. They finished 40.0% from 3-point land by going 6 out of 15 and finished the game at 16 of 23 at the free throw line (69.6%). In reference to attacking the glass, Houston allowed Cleveland State to grab 24 overall (7 on the offensive glass).

Quentin Grimes pitched in for the Cougars in the game. He converted 6 of 13 for this game giving him a field goal percentage of 46.2%, and accounted for 4 rebounds. Grimes scored 18 points in his 35 mins on the court and had 4 dimes for the matchup. Someone else that was important for Houston was Marcus Sasser. He finished with 3 assists in his 35 mins on the court, and he converted 5 out of 14 from the floor. Sasser ended the game having shot 35.7% from the field and also earning 14 points and 2 rebounds.

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

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Rutgers (+8.5)

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