Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. Penn State Nittany Lions Betting Preview

Rutgers (17-11 SU 16-12 ATS) vs. Penn State (17-11 SU 16-12 ATS)

When: Sunday, February 26th: 6:30 ET

Where: Bryce Jordan Center University Park, PA

TV: BTN

Point Spread: RU +2.5/PSU -2.5 (Deposit $300 and get $300 FREE when you sign up through our link and use bonus promo code PREDICT100 at MyBookie Sportsbook!)

Total: 132.0

Money Line: Rut +120/Penn St. -148

On Sunday, February 26th, the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, PA, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Penn State Nittany Lions will battle it out in a defense versus offense. Both teams have identical records, with 17 wins and 11 losses, and are vying for a win to boost their chances in the Big Ten Conference. The game will tip-off at 6:30 ET and will be broadcast on BTN.

Line Movement

The Nittany Lions hit the board as a -2.5 spread favorite and have since moved to -3 at many betting shops. The Total line opened at 132 points and has since climbed to 132.5.

Last Game Info

Going into their last game, Rutgers was the betting favorite at -5.5 but fell to Michigan by a score of 58-45. The combined 103 points did not surpass the 135.5 total line.

Penn State will be looking for another win, as they most recently defeated Ohio State by a score of 75-71. The Nittany Lions also picked up an ATS victory as they were +2.5 point underdogs. The combined 146 points finished above the 142.5 total line.

Current Form

Rutgers
Over their last five games, Rutgers has a straight-up record of 1-4 while going 1-4 vs. the spread. Over this stretch, the Scarlet Knight’s offense averages 59.0 points per game while hitting 40.6% of their shots from the field. On the defensive end of the floor, they have allowed opponents to shoot 45.2% from the field while allowing 66.4 points per contest.

Penn State
In their previous five contests, Penn State is 3-2 straight-up and 3-2 vs. the spread. In these five games, they have a scoring average of 77.2 points per game on a shooting percentage of 51.4%. Defensively, they allow teams to hit 49.9% of their shots while giving up 74.8 points per game.

Average Power Rating Of Opponents Played

This season, the combined power rating of Rutgers’ opponents comes in at 82.9. On the other side, Penn State’s combined opponent power rating sits at 83.

How Does Rutgers Fare On The Road?

For the season, the Scarlet Knights have played ten road games and have a record of 3-7. In these contests, Rutgers is 4-6 vs. the spread. Offensively, they have averaged 64.0 points per game on a shooting percentage of 41.7%. On defense, the Scarlet Knights allow 68.8 points per contest when playing away from home. So far, opposing teams have a field goal percentage of 43.5% in these games.

How Does Penn State Fare At Home?

In their 16 games at home, Penn State has a 10-6 record vs. the spread while going 13-3 straight-up. On offense, the Nittany Lions are shooting 49.4% on their home floor, leading to 77.7 points per game. Defensively, opponents are shooting 42.0% in these contests. The Penn State defense is allowing 67.2 points per game at home.

Offense vs. Defense

For the season, Rutgers is averaging 67.9 points per game (302nd) while posting an overall field goal percentage of 44.3%. In today’s game, they will be matched up against a Penn State defense that has allowed an average of 68.8 points per contest. This year, opponents have hit 44.0% of their shots vs. Penn State. On the other side, the Penn State Nittany Lions are coming into the game averaging 64.6 points per game on a shooting percentage of 43.2%. The Nittany Lions will be facing a defensive unit allowing an average of 59.8 points per contest. So far, teams have hit 38.9% of their shots vs. the Scarlet Knights.

Three-Point Shooting

From beyond the arc, Rutgers has a shooting percentage of 33.6% while ranking 569th in attempts per game. The Scarlet Knights will be facing a Penn State defense that has a 3-point field goal shooting percentage allowed of 34.1%. Penn State enters the game having hit 34.2% of their looks from deep while averaging 8.03 made 3’s per game. On the other end, Rutgers has allowed opponents to hit 29.8% of their shots from beyond the arc.

Injuries Of Note

Rutgers

• Mawot Mag (Out) Knee

Penn State

• Caleb Dorsey (Out) Undisclosed

Pick Against The Line

Rutgers was able to hold Penn State to a ridiculously low 4 of 26 15.4% from three-point land, and while the Scarlet Knights have one of the better 3-pt defenses, you have to figure that the Nittany Lions will improve on that and get at least in range of the seasonal norm. Rutgers has a hard time hitting 60 points, but the Penn State defense is pretty porous, allowing 74.8 PPG over their last five on 49.6 shooting. I figure we need about 65 for this to go over, and that’s exactly what they scored in the earlier meeting. Take the Over 132.5. Bet your college basketball predictions for FREE this week by scoring a massive 125% real cash bonus up to $400 AND a free half point everytime you bet your favorite team when you use bonus promo code PREDICTEM at GTBets Sportsbook!