Big Ten Basketball Betting Odds: Michigan State Favored Over Rutgers
Spartans Look to Knock Off Ranked Scarlet Knights
The Big Ten basketball betting odds have several small home favorites in what are shaping up to be solid games for Thursday and the rest of the week. Rutgers at Michigan State may be the best contest of the bunch, but there are a few good games. The Big Ten will be in action both Saturday and Sunday.
Thursday, Jan. 19
Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs Michigan State Spartans
Date, Time & Streaming:
Location: Breslin Center (East Lansing, Mich.)
Streaming: FOX Sports 1
The Big Ten basketball betting odds have Michigan State (12-6) as 2.5-point favorites over Rutgers (13-5). The total on the game is just 124.5. The low total is probably justified here, as Rutgers is No. 3 in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency. MSU is No. 39. Rutgers has been one of the best teams against the spread at 13-5.
The Spartans are better offensively but are a few notches below the Scarlet Knights in terms of team defense. The Spartans don’t force many turnovers, as they rank No. 357 in the nation. Rutgers is No. 12 in the nation at forcing turnovers but the Spartans take care of the ball. MSU is a good-shooting team from 3-point range but Rutgers is No. 12 in the nation defending the 3-pointer.
Michigan Wolverines vs Maryland Terrapins
Date, Time & Streaming:
Location: Xfinity Center (College Park, Maryland)
Streaming: ESPN
Maryland (11-6) is favored by 3 over Michigan (10-7) and the total on the game is 142. These two are fairly even, with Michigan ranking No. 38 in adjusted offensive efficiency and Maryland is No. 38 defensively.
The Terrapins are No. 68 offensively and the Wolverines are No. 79 on defense. The key to this one will be Michigan’s 3-point shooting against Maryland’s perimeter defense. The Wolverines score 31.3% of their points from 3-point range and Maryland is No. 51 in the county defending the 3-pointer.
Indiana Hoosiers vs Illinois Fighting Illini
Date, Time & Streaming:
Location: State Farm Center (Champaign, Illinois)
Streaming: Fox Sports 1
Illinois (13-5) is favored by 7 over Indiana (11-6) and the total is 146.5. The Hoosiers are going to be missing a key cog in Xavier Johnson, who is out with a foot injury.
That’s one reason why the line is probably several points higher than it should be. These two teams are close to even, with Illinois getting a slight edge. Neither team shoots well from the foul line – if the game is decided there. While Johnson is a big contributor for Indiana, we still believe the line is a bit high and would lean to the Hoosiers.
Saturday, Jan. 21
Wisconsin Badgers vs Northwestern Wildcats
Date, Time & Streaming:
Location: Welsh-Ryan Arena (Evanston, Illinois)
Streaming: Big Ten Network
The Big Ten basketball betting odds will have Northwestern as slight favorites and a total in the low 120s. Both teams are solid defensively, although the offense leaves a bit to be desired. The one thing the Badgers can do is shoot the 3-pointer, which is Northwestern’s weak link on defense.
The Badgers score nearly 40% of their points from 3-point range and with the Wildcats not defending the perimeter well, Wisconsin should be a team used in your daily NCAAB picks and parlays for Saturday.
Iowa Hawkeyes vs Ohio State Buckeyes
Date, Time & Streaming:
Location: Value Center Arena (Columbus, Ohio)
Streaming: FOX
Good game here, where the Buckeyes will be favored by about 4 and the total will be close to 160. These two are among the top offensive teams in the country, while both teams are decent on defense but not great. Iowa will look to play at a fast pace but the Buckeyes are more deliberate.
Ohio State is the better of the two teams defensively and if the line is OSU -5 or less, the Buckeyes are probably the right side.
Sunday, Jan. 22
Michigan State Spartans vs Indiana Hoosiers
Date, Time & Streaming:
Location: Assembly Hall (Bloomington, Indiana)
Streaming: CBS
The Big Ten basketball betting odds will have the Hoosiers about 4-point favorites over the Spartans with a total close to 140. This one will be dependent on what happens Thursday.
If the Spartans are able to defeat Northwestern and Indiana comes up short against Illinois, this becomes a good spot for the Hoosiers to get back in the win column. The one edge the Spartans have is their 3-point shooting against Indiana’s perimeter defense, which isn’t all that impressive. Indiana is a much better team in 2-point range and that should work to its advantage.
Maryland Terrapins vs Purdue Boilermakers
Date, Time & Streaming:
Location: Mackey Arena (West Lafayette, Indiana)
Streaming: FOX Sports 1
The Boilermakers are going to be close to double-digit favorites in this one and Purdue has a decent edge offensively. Both defensive units are are solid.
Purdue’s biggest edge in this one is on the offensive boards, where Purdue is No. 1 in the country. If the Terrapins beat Michigan earlier in the week, the Boilermakers become a bit more enticing in this spot.
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