Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs Northwestern Wildcats Prediction, 1/31/2021 College Basketball Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs Northwestern Wildcats

Date: Sunday, January 31, 2021

Location: Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, IL

TV: BTN

Odds/Point Spread: Rutgers (-3)

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights (9-6) travel to Welsh-Ryan Arena on Sunday where they'll meet the Northwestern Wildcats (6-8). Rutgers opens this contest as 3-point favorites. The total has been set at 141.

Rutgers enters this one with a win-loss mark of 9-6 for the year. They average 73.0 points per game (152nd in the nation) while connecting on 46.0% from the field. The Scarlet Knights are connecting on 34.8% on shots from downtown (98 of 282) and 59.1% from the free throw line. As a team, Rutgers is pulling down 36.8 boards per game and has totaled 224 dimes for the campaign, which ranks 81st in Division 1 in terms of passing the rock. They are losing possession via turnover 10.6 times per game and as a team they are committing 17.2 fouls on a nightly basis. When they are on defense, the Scarlet Knights are forcing their opponents into 13.3 turnovers per contest while drawing 16.5 personal fouls. They are 244th in college basketball in allowing assists to the opposition with 200 conceded for the campaign. The Scarlet Knights are giving up a field goal percentage of 42.2% (368 of 872) and they relinquish 36.3 rebounds per contest as a basketball team. They give up 32.6% from beyond the arc and they are 146th in the nation in points per game allowed (68.9).

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights played the Michigan State Spartans and went home with a win by a final score of 67-37 in their last game. Rutgers ended the game having earned a 43.3% field goal percentage (26 of 60) and converted 5 of 19 shots from downtown. At the free throw line, the Scarlet Knights made 10 of 12 shots for a rate of 83.3%. In the matter of getting rebounds, they compiled 40 with 13 of them being on the offensive end. They also recorded 12 dimes for the contest while getting 14 steals and 7 blocked shots. Pertaining to the defense, Rutgers allowed their opponent to shoot 43.3% from the floor on 26 of 60 shooting. Michigan State doled out 8 dimes and had 4 steals for this contest. On top of that, the Spartans collected 29 rebounds (10 offensive, 19 defensive) and added 7 blocks. Michigan State finished the game at 20.0% at the charity stripe by burying 1 of their 5 shots. They knocked down 4 of their 20 tries from downtown.

Myles Johnson is a guy who came through in the game. He was able to score 13 points on 6 out of 9 shooting. He saw the court for 28 mins and totaled 14 boards. Johnson ended up going 66.7% from the field but had no assists when the time ran out. An additional guy that came through in this contest for the Scarlet Knights was Geo Baker. He totaled 5 boards and collected 5 assists. He finished 55.6% from the field in this game by shooting 5-of-9 (11 points). When the final whistle blew, Baker was on the court for 31 minutes.

Northwestern has a win-loss mark of 6-8 so far this season. Northwestern has accounted for 1,065 points this year (76.1 per game) and they average 34.2 boards per game. The Wildcats have committed 17.4 fouls every game while shooting 73.0% from the charity stripe. As an offense, the Wildcats are connecting on 45.1% from the field, which ranks them 142nd in D-1. They are assisting teammates 16.8 times per game (29th in college basketball) and they turn the ball over 10.1 times per game. The Wildcats defensively are ranked 233rd in the country in points allowed per contest with 72.5. The Northwestern defense concedes 34.7% on 3-point shots (119 of 343) and their opponents are knocking down 71.4% of their shots from the charity stripe. They relinquish 15.3 dimes and 35.7 boards per contest, which has them ranked 303rd and 208th in D-1. They have forced 12.1 TO's every game and allow teams to shoot 43.4% from the floor (203rd in college basketball).

The last time they took the hardwood, the Northwestern Wildcats went home defeated by a final of 81-78 against the Penn State Nittany Lions. The Wildcats pulled down 20 defensive rebounds and 3 offensive boards totaling 23 in this contest. They blocked 2 attempts while recording 8 steals in this contest. The Nittany Lions were called for 15 personal fouls in this contest which took the Wildcats to the charity stripe for a total of 12 attempts. They were able to bury 9 of the free throw tries for a clip of 75.0%. When discussing 3-point attempts, Northwestern converted 11 of their 26 attempts (42.3%). When this game wrapped up, the Wildcats went 29 for 59 from the field which had them shooting 49.2%. The Wildcats allowed the Nittany Lions to convert 26 of their 55 attempts from the floor which gave them a shooting percentage of 47.3% in this game. They finished 45.0% from 3-point land by connecting on 9 out of 20 and walked away from this one shooting 20 of 26 from the charity stripe (76.9%). In reference to attacking the glass, Northwestern allowed Penn State to get 37 in total (12 offensive).

Miller Kopp ended up having an impact for the Wildcats for the contest. He knocked down 5 out of 11 in the game for a rate of 45.5%, which had him finishing with 19 points. Kopp pulled down 2 boards in his 33 minutes played and had 2 assists in this matchup. An additional guy who came through for Northwestern was Boo Buie. He walked away with 18 points in 32 minutes on the court via 7 of 12 from the floor for the matchup. Buie walked away from this one going 58.3% from the field as well as totaling 4 assists and 2 boards.

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

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Rutgers (-3)

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