2023 College Basketball Preview: Rutgers Scarlet Knights

The college basketball season is less than three weeks away, and here at FTN Bets we have you covered for what promises to be another thrilling year of upsets and incredible finishes. I will be taking you around the country with a betting preview of the major conferences. I recap the betting trends from last season, list projected starters, preview the season, identify a key player, and reveal how I’m backing or fading each team. 

Let’s continue our preview with the Big Ten. Always competitive each season, the Big Ten has developed a reputation for early-round flameouts in the NCAA Tournament. Only Michigan State advanced past the second round last season, and No. 1 Purdue’s opening round loss to 16-seeded FDU is the greatest upset in NCAA Tournament history. With both Purdue and Michigan State opening the season ranked inside the AP top four teams, the conference again has Final Four contenders. Just eight years ago the Big Ten put two teams in the Final Four (Wisconsin, Michigan State), and 24 seasons since a Big Ten team was crowned overall champion (Michigan State, 2000). 

Let’s continue with our betting preview for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

2023-2024 Rutgers Scarlet Knights Betting Preview

Conference: Big Ten
Head Coach: Steve Pikiell (8th season)
2022-2023 Record: 19-15 (10-10)
ATS: 19-14-1
O/U: 14-20
Projected Starters: G Noah Fernandes; G Derek Simpson; F Aundre Hyatt; F Mawot Mag; C Cliff Omoruyi 

It’s hard to believe this is Steve Pikiell’s eighth season as head coach at Rutgers. He has taken a program that was regarded as the doormat of the Big Ten to a program that expects to make the NCAA Tournament every year. Last season would have been a historic third straight trip if forward Mawot Mag didn’t tear his ACL in February. Mag’s last game was Feb. 4, at home against Michigan State. Rutgers defeated the Spartans 61-55, moving their record to 16-7 and 8-4 in the Big Ten. Without Mag, the Scarlet Knights lost three straight games and six of their last eight regular season matchups. They ultimately lost out on the NCAA Tournament because of those losses and a weak nonconference strength of schedule. Rutgers lost at home in the first round of the NIT to Hofstra in overtime. 

This goal this season is another trip to March Madness, and with Cliff Omoruyi in the middle, that is very possible. He led Rutgers in scoring, rebounding, and blocks, and profiles as one of the best big men in the country. Noah Fernandes is a transfer from UMass who is a big shotmaker and is expected to lead a roster full of long, athletic players. 

Key Player: Cliff Omoruyi

Can Rutgers produce the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year for third consecutive season? With Cliff Omoruyi anchoring the middle, that is certainly possible. The loss of elite defender Caleb McConnell (2x Big Ten DOPY) is huge, but Omoruyi is an elite rim protector who just needs to avoid foul trouble. Pikiell wants Omoruyi to become a bigger threat offensively, preparing the 6-foot-11 senior for a future NBA career. The development of Omoruyi will be directly tethered to Rutgers NCAA Tournament chances. 

Projection: Rutgers will always fly under the radar behind more nationally recognized powerhouses such as Purdue, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan State. Rutgers finished 10th in the Big Ten last season, but that was skewed by the Mag injury. They are projected 10th in the preseason Big Ten media poll but maintain one of the most dominant home court advantages in the nation. They also are one of the few (if only) teams in the conference that has a big man who can matchup directly with Purdue’s Zach Edey. Last season, Rutgers went into West Lafayette and beat the Boilermakers 64-64. That ended up being Purdue’s only loss until February. With Pikiell leading this squad, a top-half finish is very realistic. 

How I’m Betting Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights are 21-14-1 (60%) ATS the last two seasons at home. That includes a perfect 7-0 ATS as a home underdog, which extends to a mindblowing 11-1 ATS if you extend back four seasons. I am very high on Rutgers, who should dominate an easy nonconference schedule with Omoruyi as the premier chess piece against smaller schools. I will also look to back their unders, but I want to assess this defensive without McConnell’s perimeter prowess. When it comes to the Big Ten schedule, back the Scarlet Knights at home. Period.