Rutgers vs Indiana Game Information

Rutgers vs Indiana Preview

Indiana (10-3, 1-1 in Big Ten) welcomes Rutgers (8-5, 1-1 in Big Ten) to Bloomington for an early season Big Ten Conference clash from the Hoosier State. In their last 5, the Scarlet Knights are 3-2, losing vs Texas A&M by 4 (81-77), at Ohio State by 14 in their Big Ten opener (80-66), beating Penn State by 4 at Home (80-76), topping Seton Hall by 3 at Home (66-63) and the falling to Princeton by 1 at Home in their last game (83-82). In their last 5 games, the Hoosiers are 4-1, beating Miami Ohio by 19 (76-57), Minnesota by 15 (82-67), losing at Nebraska by 17 in a game we nailed for you here (85-68), beating Tennessee Chattanooga by 9 (74-65), and then beating Winthrop by 9 in their last game (77-68). In the 2025 NCAA Basketball Futures market, online sportsbook DraftKings has Indiana priced at 150/1 to win the national title with no line posted on Rutgers as they are a New Jersey school.

Rutgers in Lion’s Den in Bloomington Thursday

Rutgers (5-7-1 ATS, 7-5-1 O/U) only really gets significant scoring from 5 main guys, standout G’s Dylan Harper (22.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.8 apg) and Ace Bailey (18.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg), along with G Jeremiah Williams (7.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg), C Lathan Sommerville (7.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg), and G Jordan Derkack (7.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.7 apg). The Scarlet Knights average 79.7 ppg (#96) while giving up 74.3 ppg and fell from their earlier Top 25 ranking and will now just look for improvement and not to be embarrassed with former Pac-12 schools UCLA, USC, Washington, and Oregon all now playing in the Big Ten. Rutgers (+172 Moneyline) isn’t that great at Rebounding (37.0 rpg, Tied-#171) or Assists (14.4 apg, Tied-#183) and will be up against it here (Rutgers 3-9 on Road in Big 10 in 2023-24) vs. a stronger Hoosiers team who is very protective of their Home court (12-5 in 2023-24).

Rutgers Betting Trends

• Rutgers is 1-2-1 ATS its last 4 Road games overall
• Rutgers was 13-19-0 ATS last season
• The Scarlet Knights have lost 5 of their last 6 conference games
• Rutgers is 2-8 SU in its last 10 Big Ten Conference games
• The Under was 22-10-0 in Rutgers games last season (68.8%)

Indiana Looks to Protect Home in First 2025 Game

Former IU player and now Head Coach Mike Woodson and Indiana (6-7-0 ATS, 5-8-0 O/U) played 8 of its first 10 games in the friendly confines of Assembly Hall in Bloomington where the fourth folding chair thrown in your general direction is always free. The Hoosiers have 8 main guys who contribute in F Malik Reneau (15.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.5 apg), F Mackenzie Mgbako (13.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg), C Oumar Ballo (12.4 ppg, 9.2 rpg), G Myles Rice (11.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.2 apg), G Trey Galloway (6.9 ppg, 3.8 apg), F Bryson Tucker (6.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg), F Luke Goode (6.2 ppg), and G Kanaan Carlyle (5.0 ppg). Indiana was 12-5 at Home last season and the Crimson and Cream lost Trayce Jackson-Davis (Warriors) and Jalen-Hood Schifino (Lakers) to the NBA, had four players leave in the Transfer Portal and also saw three graduate. The Hoosiers (-210 Moneyline) average 78.7 ppg (Tied-#112) and allow 69.9 ppg.

Indiana Betting Trends

• Indiana is 7-3 SU over its last 10 games overall 
• The Hoosiers have played 3 Unders in their last 3 games
• Indiana is 0-3-0 ATS in its last 3 games after a 4-0-0 ATS streak
• The Hoosiers were 15-16-2 ATS in the 2023-24 NCAAB season (48.4%)
• Indiana is surprising 1-7-0 SU/ATS the last 8 games vs Rutgers
• The Hoosiers are a perfect 9-0 this season at Home at Assembly Hall

Rutgers vs Indiana Prediction

The Scarlet Knights have been very impressive vs the Hoosiers over the last 10 series meetings, going 8-2 SU/ATS and winning 3 of the 5 meetings at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington with the little Pink Houses for you and me. Rutgers has also won and covered ATS in 7 of the last 8 meetings, so this will be a big test for HC Woodson and Indiana, but it seems the Site and Situation are the biggest two handicapping angles here. The Hoosiers will want to start 2025 off on the right foot, and losing to Rutgers and falling to 1-2 in the conference doesn’t sound like a good idea. Although Rutgers has won 2 of the last 3 times here (2021, 2022), Indiana won (and covered the 4-Point Spread) last year, 66-60 in a game the Hoosiers outscored the visitors by 3 in both Halves (38-35, 28-25). With Indiana a perfect 9-0 at Home and having a better core unit, this Rutgers vs Indiana NCAAB pick will side with Reneau, Mgbako, Ballo, and IU to win by 7 points or more.

Kevin’s Pick: Indiana -5.5