Both the No. 9 Wisconsin Badgers and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights are coming off losses, and each will look to get back in the win column when they meet in Piscataway this coming Friday. The Scarlet Knights have slipped out of the Top 25 rankings but could see themselves slide back into it if they can beat the Badgers.
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Betting Preview for the Wisconsin Badgers vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights NCAA College Basketball Game on January 15 2021
Where: Rutgers Athletic Center
When: Friday, January 15, 2021, 7:00 PM ET
Line: Wisconsin Badgers (odds) vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (odds) – view all 2021 NCAAB lines
TV Broadcast: TBD
Betting on the Wisconsin Badgers (odds)
Record: 10-3 Overall / 4-2 Conference
The Badgers could not handle the smoking No. 7 Michigan Wolverines in Tuesday’s 77-54 loss in Ann Arbor. Wisconsin couldn’t get its offense going against Michigan, as the Badgers shot just 30.8 percent from the field. That also just shows how great defensively Michigan is. Wisconsin can do better on offense this coming Friday in Piscataway against Rutgers’ defense that has been dropping the ball of late. The Scarlet Knights are allowing 71.9 points per game this season, but that’s gone up to 74.7 over their last three games. Rutgers opponents have also shot five percent better from the field in that span compared to what the Scarlet Knights are allowing on the season. The Badgers are scoring 94.8 points per game, only 92nd overall in the nation, but they are 11th in terms of adjusted offensive efficiency with 113.8 points per 100 possessions.
Wisconsin is 5-5 against the spread in its last 10 games overall.
Betting on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (odds)
Record: 7-4 Overall / 3-4 Conference
Rutgers is still searching for its way out of a slump. The Scarlet Knights have gone 1-4 straight up and 0-3 straight up in their last five and three games, respectively, In their last outing, they lost to the Ohio State Buckeyes at home, 79-68 last Saturday. However, it’s worth noting that among the losses in that stretch was against a tough Iowa Hawkeyes team on the road. Rutgers lost a close one, 77-75, to Luka Garza and company. They could have won that game if they shot better than a 4-of-12 line from the charity stripe. Free-throw shooting has been a problem for Rutgers this season, as it is ranked 337th nationally with a 58.8 FT%. In any case, the Scarlet Knights have reliable weapons on offense who can deliver the goods for them. Among them is Ron Harper Jr., who leads the team with 20.1 points per game.
Rutgers is 4-1 against the spread in its last five games as the team. The over is also 4-1 in that same span.
Writer’s Prediction
Wisconsin wins, 69-65.
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