The Michigan State Spartans will look to prevent the No. 23 Rutgers Scarlet Knights from solidifying second-place in the Big Ten Conference when they meet on Thursday at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich. The Scarlet Knights (13-5, 5-2 Big Ten) could move to 8-1 over their past nine games with a win, and jump out to their best start to league play since 1984-1985 when they were members of the Atlantic 10. The Spartans (12-6, 4-3), who have lost two in a row, look to improve their home record to 8-2 on the season with a win. Rutgers has won the last two meetings with Michigan State, but the Spartans have won 11 of 13 games in the all-time series.
The game will tip off at 6:30 p.m. ET. Rutgers is averaging 70.9 points per game, while Michigan State averages 69.7. The Spartans are 3-point favorites in the latest Rutgers vs. Michigan State odds, while the over/under for total points scored is set at 127. Before making any Michigan State vs. Rutgers picks, be sure to see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's Matt Severance.
Severance is a well-connected writer and handicapper who has worked in the industry since 2005. Over the past two college basketball seasons, he is 391-286 (plus $2,714). Severance has been on a roll thus far during the 2022-23 college basketball season, going 77-59-1 in his last 137 picks. Anyone following his college basketball picks is way up.
Now, he's set his sights on Michigan State vs. Rutgers and just locked in his picks and CBB predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are the college basketball odds and betting lines for Rutgers vs. Michigan State:
- Michigan State vs. Rutgers spread: Michigan State -3
- Michigan State vs. Rutgers over/under: 127 points
- Michigan State vs. Rutgers money line: Michigan State -157, Rutgers +129
- RUT: The Scarlet Knights are 7-0 against the spread in their last seven games against a team with a winning % above .600
- MSU: The Spartans are 4-0 ATS in their last four home games
- Michigan State vs. Rutgers picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Michigan State can cover
Junior guard A.J. Hoggard is one of three Spartans to average double-digit scoring on the season. In 18 games, including 17 starts, he is averaging 12.6 points, 6.3 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game. He is connecting on 42.2% of his field goals and 82.6% of his free throws. Hoggard has been hot of late and has reached double-figure scoring in each of the last four games, including a 20-point performance at Illinois last Friday night. He has two double-doubles on the season, including an 11-point, 10-rebound effort against Buffalo on Dec. 30.
Senior Tyson Walker, a transfer point guard from Northeastern, is in his second season with the Spartans and has quickly become a force on offense. In 18 games, all starts, Walker is averaging a team-high 14.8 points per game. Against third-ranked Purdue on Monday, he poured in 30 points, while grabbing three rebounds. He has scored 20 or more points four times.
Why Rutgers can cover
The Scarlet Knights are powered by senior guard Cam Spencer, one of two Rutgers players averaging double-digit scoring. In 18 games, Spencer averages 13.9 points, 3.7 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game. He is connecting on 47.4% of his field goals, including 46.7% from 3-point range, and 93.6% of his free throws. He is coming off back-to-back 20-plus scoring games, including 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists in a 68-64 overtime win over Ohio State on Sunday, and a 23-point, four-rebound effort at Northwestern in a 65-62 win on Jan. 11.
Junior center Clifford Omoruyi registered a double-double in Sunday's win over Ohio State with 14 points and 11 rebounds. It was his sixth of the season, and first since Dec. 30 when he scored 20 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in a 90-57 win over Coppin State. He scored season highs in points (22) and rebounds (15) in a 73-65 victory over UMass Lowell on Nov. 12. For the season, Omoruyi averages 13.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 1.2 assists per game.
How to make Rutgers vs. Michigan State picks
For Thursday's matchup, Severance is leaning Under the total, but he also says a critical X-factor makes one side of the spread a must-back. See who to back at SportsLine.
Who wins Michigan State vs. Rutgers? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Rutgers vs. Michigan State spread you need to jump on Thursday, all from the expert who returned over $2,700 to $100 players in the two college basketball seasons.
