Columbia Lions vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Columbia vs Rutgers NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Piscataway.

Columbia vs Rutgers Prediction

Looking to win big? The Lions and Scarlet Knights face off at 5:00 ET on BTN. The Scarlet Knights are hosting the game at Jersey Mike's Arena in Piscataway, NJ. This non-conference matchup has an over/under of 155.5 points, and Rutgers is favored by -11.5 vs. Columbia.

Columbia vs. Rutgers Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Columbia Lions at Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Where: Piscataway at Jersey Mike's Arena
Date: Monday, December 30th
Betting Odds RUTGER -11.5, COLMB +465 | RUTGER -680 O/U 155.5

Lions Preview: Can the Lions Grab a Win on the Road?

Columbia Lions Recent Game/Games

Columbia improved to 9-1 on the season with an 85-72 win over Fairfield on Saturday. The Lions, who were -9.5 point favorites, covered the spread with the win. The game’s total points of 157 exceeded the O/U line of 153.5.

Columbia’s defense stepped up in the second half, holding Fairfield to 31 points while scoring 53 of their own. This strong finish helped the Lions not only secure the win but also cover the spread.

Lions Offense Breakdown

Columbia's offense was firing on all cylinders in their latest game, putting up 85 points with a 57.7% field goal percentage. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 65.4%, thanks in part to their 70% shooting inside the arc and 40.9% from three-point range. At the free-throw line, they were nearly perfect, hitting 16 of 17 attempts for a 94.1% success rate.

Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa led the way with 27 points, connecting on 5 of 11 from beyond the arc. Zine Eddine Bedri was a force on the boards, grabbing 17 rebounds and adding 7 assists, while also shooting 85.7% from the field. Mason Ritter was perfect from the floor, hitting all 5 of his attempts.

Lions Team Defense

Columbia's defense struggled in their last game, giving up 72 points on 57% shooting from the field. The Lions allowed the opposing team to hit 70% of their two-point attempts, with 21 makes on 30 shots.

From beyond the arc, the opposition shot 40%, connecting on 9 of 22 three-point attempts. Columbia also sent them to the free-throw line 17 times, where they converted 16 for 94%. The Lions gave up 6 offensive rebounds.

Scarlet Knights Preview: Can The Scarlet Knights Secure a Home Victory?

Rutgers fell to 7-5 on the season after a narrow 83-82 loss to Princeton on Saturday. The Scarlet Knights, who were -7 favorites at home, failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 165, surpassing the O/U line of 151.5.

Rutgers led 46-44 at halftime but were outscored 39-36 in the second half. The loss raises questions about their ability to close out games, especially when favored.

Scarlet Knights Offense Breakdown

Rutgers put up 82 points in their last game, shooting 46% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 50.8%. They hit 52.3% of their two-point attempts (23/44) and connected on 31.6% from beyond the arc (6/19). At the free-throw line, they converted 78.3% of their attempts, going 18/23.

Caden Pierce and Xaivian Lee each contributed 21 points, with Pierce shooting 58.8% from the field and grabbing 14 rebounds. Lee added 11 assists despite shooting just 31.8%. Dylan Harper led the team with 22 points, hitting 50% of his shots, while Ace Bailey chipped in 15 points and 12 boards.

Scarlet Knights Team Defense

Despite Rutgers' defensive efforts, they couldn't hold their opponent, who scored 83 points on 46% shooting from the field. The Scarlet Knights allowed 23 two-point field goals on 44 attempts, a 52% conversion rate.

From beyond the arc, Rutgers' defense limited their opponent to 6 threes on 19 attempts, a 31% success rate. However, they sent them to the free-throw line 23 times, where they hit 18, shooting 78%. Rutgers also gave up 12 offensive rebounds.

Lions vs Scarlet Knights Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

In their last three games away from home, the Lions have a straight up record of 2-1 while going 1-2 vs the spread. The team averaged 81 points per game in this stretch.
Across the Scarlet Knights last three home games, the team averaged 80 points per game while allowing 86. Their record vs the spread in these contests was 1-1-1, while going 1-2 straight-up.
Spanning across their last five games as the betting underdog, the Lions have gone 1-4 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 1-4.
Through their last three matchups as the betting favorite, the Scarlet Knights have a good straight up record, but their ATS mark is just 1-2.