Rutgers at Michigan State odds, picks and predictions

Skip Snow
Staff Writer

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights (9-6, 1-3 Big Ten) and Michigan State Spartans (9-7, 1-4) tangle Sunday in East Lansing. The opening tipoff at the Breslin Center will be at noon ET (Big Ten Network). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook's lines around the Rutgers vs. Michigan Stateodds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.

Rutgers is fresh off a solid 66-57 win as a 4-point favorite against Indiana. The cover marked just RU's 3rd since Dec. 2. The win for the Knights, a defense-1st squad that struggles in shooting, marked their 1st in league play.

With a 1-4 circuit mark after a Thursday loss at Illinois, the Spartans are off to their worst Big Ten start in coach Tom Izzo's career. Michigan State lost 71-68 (push on a +3) and is 0-2 straight up and 0-1-1 over its last 2 games. That comes on the heels of going 5-0 SU and 5-0 ATS from Dec. 16-Jan. 4.

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Rutgers at Michigan State odds

Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 10:02 p.m. ET.

  • Moneyline: Rutgers +500 (bet $100 to win $500) | Michigan State -720 (bet $720 to win $100)
  • Against the spread (ATS): Rutgers +11.5 (-110) | Michigan State -11.5 (-110)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 136.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Rutgers at Michigan State picks and predictions

Prediction

Michigan State 67, Rutgers 60

Moneyline

PASS. The Knights are the likable side overall, but MSU would be more vulnerable off some wins.

Against the spread

Rutgers is 5-2 ATS over its last 7 games against MSU.

Recent games away from home against Mississippi State (Dec. 23) and Ohio State (Jan. 3) are solid building blocks for making the case the Knights, who lost those 2 games by a combined 14 points. Rutgers can stay close enough in this game against the Spartans.

Shot quality numbers peg RU as being due for some helping regression at both ends. Strong interior defense, an ability to create turnovers and a propensity for getting to the charity stripe are all green checks in the Rutgers column.

Michigan State is better than its record shows but not worthy of a spread this large.

BACK THE SCARLET KNIGHTS +11.5 (-110).

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Over/Under

The Under is 10-5 across RU's last 15 Big Ten games. The Under has also cashed in 4 of the last 5 games in this series.

Figure on a slower-than-average pace without a slew of triples or other quick-add categories.

TAKE THE UNDER 136.5 (-110).

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