Ohio State vs. Rutgers Dunkel Predictions & Vegas Odds - Jan. 2

The Ohio State Buckeyes (9-3, 1-1 Big Ten) visit the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (7-6, 0-2 Big Ten) at Jersey Mike's Arena, beginning at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, January 2, 2026. The Scarlet Knights are 9.5-point underdogs in the game. The matchup has a point total of 150.5.

Ohio State heads into this matchup after an 89-63 victory over Grambling on Tuesday. In Ohio State's win, John Mobley Jr. led the way with a team-high 20 points (adding one rebound and four assists). In its most recent matchup on Monday, Rutgers claimed a 65-50 win over Delaware State. Tariq Francis scored a team-best 19 points for Rutgers in the win.

Ohio State vs. Rutgers Odds and Game Time

• When: Friday, January 2, 2026 at 8 p.m. ET
• Where: Jersey Mike's Arena in Piscataway, New Jersey
• Spread favorite: Ohio State -9.5
• Moneyline favorite: Ohio State -459
• Moneyline underdog: Rutgers +352
• Over/Under: 150.5 points

How to watch Ohio State vs. Rutgers

• TV Channel: Peacock
• Check out the rest of our Dunkel Index NCAA Basketball Picks!

Betting the Over/Under: Ohio State vs. Rutgers

• This season, Ohio State and its opponents have combined to outscore Friday's over/under of 150.5 points seven times.
• In Rutgers' 13 games this season, three finished with more combined points than Friday's over/under of 150.5.
• The over/under for the game of 150.5 is 4.5 points fewer than the combined points per game averages for the Buckeyes (86.3) and Scarlet Knights (68.7).
• This game's total is 7.6 fewer points than the 142.9 these two teams combine to give up per game in 2024.
• Ohio State has a 158.2 average over/under in its games this season, 7.7 more points than the over/under in this contest.
• The over/under for this contest is 10.8 points higher than the average over/under in Rutgers' games this season of 139.7.

Betting the Spread: Ohio State vs. Rutgers

• Ohio State is 5-7-0 against the spread this year.
• The Buckeyes have an ATS record of 3-4 in their seven games when favored by 9.5 points or more so far this season.
• Rutgers is 3-10-0 against the spread this year.
• The Scarlet Knights have been underdogs by 9.5 points or more four times this year and have not covered the spread once.
• Rutgers has one win against the spread, and is 6-2 overall, at home this year.
• Rutgers has one win ATS (1-6) as a 9.5-point underdog or more at home.

Betting the Moneyline: Ohio State vs. Rutgers

• This season, Ohio State has won eight out of the nine games in which it has been the moneyline favorite.
• The Buckeyes have entered seven games this season favored by -459 or more, and won each of those games.
• Ohio State has a 82.1% chance to win this game based on the implied probability of the moneyline.
• Rutgers has been chosen as moneyline underdogs in six games this year and has walked away with the win one time (16.7%) in those games.
• The Scarlet Knights have yet to win this season when listed as an underdog of +352 or worse on the moneyline this season.
• The moneyline set for this matchup implies Rutgers has a 22.1% chance of walking away with the win.

Dunkel Index Prediction for Ohio State vs. Rutgers

• Pick ATS: Rutgers (+ 9.5)
• Pick OU: Under (150.5)
  
• Prediction: Ohio State 74 - Rutgers 68