Purdue Boilermakers vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights Prediction, Odds and Picks for Thursday, 01/09/25

Purdue and Rutgers square off in an intriguing Big Ten battle, with both teams looking to assert themselves in conference play. Rutgers is coming off a tough home loss to Wisconsin, and questions linger about the health of their star guard, Dylan Harper, who played just 15 minutes without scoring in the last game. The Scarlet Knights are 7-1 at home but remain winless as an underdog this season (0-5). Rutgers has NBA-level talent and does a great job protecting the ball, ranking 31st nationally in turnover rate. Still, their defensive and rebounding struggles make this a tough matchup, especially against a Purdue team that controls pace and space well. The Scarlet Knights’ best chance is to exploit Purdue’s lack of shot-blocking and defensive lapses, but it’s hard to see them flipping the script entirely.

On the other hand, Purdue has thrived as the favorite, boasting a 10-1 record in such situations. The Boilermakers are also a sharp-shooting squad, hitting 40% from three-point range and ranking among the top 25 in effective field goal percentage. However, their defense has been shaky, ranking 250th in defensive efficiency, just slightly worse than Rutgers at 218th. Both teams are averaging over 77 points per game, so this could be a high-scoring affair. While Rutgers will make it competitive, Purdue’s offensive consistency gives them the edge. Expect plenty of scoring, with the game hitting the over at 149 as a strong lean.

Purdue vs Rutgers prediction: Over 149 (-108) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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