The Purdue Boilermakers take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in Piscataway, NJ. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. ET on FS1.
Purdue is favored by 2.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -140. The total is set at 147.5 points.
Here are my Purdue vs. Rutgers predictions and college basketball picks for January 9, 2025.
Purdue vs Rutgers Odds
| Purdue Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2.5 -110 | 147.5 -110 / -110 | -140 |
| Rutgers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2.5 -110 | 147.5 -110 / -110 | +120 |
- Purdue vs Rutgers spread: Purdue -2.5
- Purdue vs Rutgers over/under: 147.5 points
- Purdue vs Rutgers moneyline: Purdue -140, Rutgers +120
- Purdue vs Rutgers best bet: Rutgers +1.5
My Purdue vs Rutgers best bet is on the Scarlet Knights spread, with the best odds currently available at DraftKings. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Purdue vs Rutgers College Basketball Betting Preview
Editor's Note: Dylan Harper (flu) is questionable for tonight's game.
Rutgers suffered a tough defeat on Monday night at home against the Badgers. Their star guard Dylan Harper still appeared to be dealing with health issues in the game, playing just 15 minutes and scoring zero points.
This isn't a great matchup, on paper, for Rutgers, as it only ranks in the top 95 in offensive and defensive adjusted efficiency. Meanwhile, it's going up against a Purdue team that's shooting 40% from 3 and ranks in the top 25 in effective field goal percentage.
Defensively, Rutgers hasn't been as efficient as it's been in the past. But I will say that its offense has been a much stronger unit than previous versions of the Scarlet Knights.
I like that they’ve had a couple more days for Harper to get healthy, and they're 31st in the country in offensive turnover rate, which means that they protect the basketball very well.
Purdue ranks outside the top 320 in block rate, and it's going up against a much lengthier Rutgers team. The Boilers don't have the luxury of having Zach Edey down low, and it struggles to rebound the basketball.
Also, Purdue's defense isn't as elite as you may think. The Boilers are due for serious regression on both sides of the ball, and it's an awful situation to be facing a very desperate Rutgers team on the road.
Jersey Mike's Arena is one of the most demanding venues to play at in the Big Ten, and these fans realize that their team desperately needs to get in the win column to turn their season around.
There's no doubt that Rutgers has the talent to compete with Purdue all evening long, and its offense will be able to take advantage of some of Purdue's flawed defensive metrics.
Purdue only shoots 73% from the free throw line while getting to the line a decent amount, but Rutgers is in the top 50 in the country in terms of foul rate on defense. The Scarlet Knights rarely allow their opponents to get to the charity stripe.
I don't think Rutgers' rebounding issues will come into play here, and I believe favorable shooting fortune is coming its way.
This is the definition of a buy-low, sell-high spot.
KenPom has Purdue as a five-point favorite here. Still, this is down to Purdue -1.5 at most books.
It's due or die for Rutgers, and I'm happy to take it here in an outstanding situational spot.
Pick: Rutgers +1.5
