Rutgers vs. Ohio State Total Pick for 1/3/24

Rutgers Scarlet Knights (8-4 SU, 5-7 ATS) vs. Ohio State Buckeyes (11-2 SU, 5-7 ATS)

When: Wednesday, January 3rd, 7:00 PM (ET)

Where: Value City Arena, OH, Columbus

TV: BTN

Point Spread: RUTGER +9/OHIOST -9

Total: 133.5

Money Line: Rutgers Scarlet Knights +340/-455

Notable Injuries

Scarlet Knights

• Jeremiah Williams (Out) Eligibility
• Emmanuel Ogbole (Out) Knee
• Jamichael Davis (Questionable) Undisclosed

Buckeyes

• Owen Spencer (Out) Undisclosed
• Taison Chatman (Questionable) Undisclosed

Recent Form

As they get ready for their 13th game of the year, Rutgers enters with an 8-4 record this season. As the away team, the Scarlet Knights have a 1-1 record, and they are 7-3 at home this season.

So far, Rutgers’ games have averaged 128.9 points per game, with the average over/under line being 135.7 points. The Scarlet Knights’ last five games have finished with a combined 130 points per game and an over/under record of 1-4.

Rutgers has a sub-.500 ATS record of 5-7. In their last ten games, Rutgers is 1-4 vs. the spread.

Ohio State comes into this game with a record of 11-2, after defeating New Orleans 78-36 in their previous game. In their last ten home games, including those from last year, Ohio State has gone 6-4.

After 13 games, Ohio State has an over/under record of 7-5-0, with their games averaging a combined 143.5 points per game so far. In their most recent three games, the Buckeyes’ over/under record is 2-1, with their games averaging 140 points per game.

As Ohio State enters today’s game, their ATS record stands at 5-7. Looking at the team’s performance vs. the spread in their last five games, they have gone 3-2.

The Historicals

When looking at how these teams have performed vs the spread in recent matchups, the Scarlet Knights have an ATS mark of 3-2. Yet, the Buckeyes have averaged more points per game in these contests, at 70, compared to Ohio State at 67. Rutgers and Ohio State averaged a combined 137 points per game in these games, leading to an over-under mark of 2-3.

Analysis

In their most recent game, the Rutgers offense put up just 59 points vs. the Stonehill Skyhawks. Overall, they are now averaging 67.5 points per game, which is 385th in the country. Aundre Hyatt is leading the team in scoring at 12.3 points per contest. Clifford Omoruyi has also been a key contributor, with a PPG average of 11.4 going into the game.

Coming into today’s game, the Rutgers defense is giving up an average of 61.4 points per contest. Rutgers’ three-point defense is currently 90th in the country at 6.5 made threes per game. In terms of overall field goal percentage, opponents have hit 37.2% of their shots vs. Rutgers.

The Ohio State offense is coming off a game in which they scored 78 points vs. New Orleans. Overall, their field goal percentage was 44.1% while connecting on eight threes. Jamison Battle led the scoring for the Buckeyes, contributing 17 points. Additionally, Zed Key chipped in with 16 points.

At present, the Buckeyes’ defense is nationally ranked 45th, allowing 64.9 points per game. In terms of field goal percentage allowed, Ohio State’s defense has allowed opponents to shoot 40.7% from the field, including a three-point shooting percentage allowed of 29.9% this season.

Betting Trends

• Across their last three road contests, Rutgers has a 2-1 record vs the spread. Their overall mark in these games was 1-2 while averaging 64 points per game.
• In their last ten games at home, the Buckeyes have a straight-up record of 6-4 while going 6-4 vs the spread. The team’s offense averaged 71 points per game in these contests.
• Going back to their previous five games as the underdog, Rutgers has an ATS mark of 3-2 while going 2-3 straight up.
• In their last ten games as the betting favorite, the Buckeyes have a straight up record of 9-1 and an ATS mark of 4-6.

Rich Crew’s Total Pick

Both games last season and the past three in this series have gone Under, but I think we see an end to that trend tonight. Rutgers has allowed three of their last six opponents to over 70 points, and they certainly don’t have UCLA’s defense that held Ohio State to 67 points. I see the Buckeyes hitting the mid-70s, leaving the Scarlet Knights to hit the low 60s to cash this bet. Take the Over 133.5