Rutgers Scarlet Knights
The Scarlet Knights lost seven of their nine January games in 2025-26 and covered seven of them. In December they had covered none of five.
January, losing and covering
Rutgers went 2-7 in January with seven covers in nine, most of them as big underdogs who lost by less than the number, 96-87 at Wisconsin getting 15.5, 68-62 at Iowa getting 17.5, 88-79 at home to Michigan State getting 14.5. The two wins, over Oregon at +170 and Northwestern at +164, were both at home.
December was the opposite month: 2-3 and no covers in five, including a 70-69 home win over Penn at -11.5.
As underdog and as favorite
Twenty-four games as underdogs, a load only 42 Division I teams exceeded: 6-18 straight up and 14 covers, 58.3%. Nine games as favorites: 8-1 straight up and three covers. Three of the six misses were November home wins as favorites of 16.5 points or more, over Maine, Lehigh and American. The one loss came at -2500, 67-54 at home to Central Connecticut in November.
On the moneyline the whole season, 30 priced games, lost 3.74 units. The late run made some of it back: from 15 February the Knights won five of nine, covered six, and one unit a game made 2.99.
Opponents
Maryland and Penn State each lost twice to Rutgers, and Rutgers covered all four; the two pairs returned 2.55 and 2.29 units. Michigan State won both meetings but Rutgers covered both. UCLA won twice, the second in the Big Ten tournament, with no covers.
The total
Nineteen overs in 33, 57.6%. That over rate sits behind 48 Division I teams, level with ten more, which makes it a lean rather than a rule. After the season Rutgers lost 82-69 to Creighton in the College Basketball Crown.
Questions and answers
Does Rutgers cover as an underdog?
In 2025-26 it covered 14 of 24 underdog games, 58.3%, while winning six.
How did the Scarlet Knights do in January 2026?
2-7 straight up but seven covers in nine.
Were the Knights a safe bet as favorites?
Not against the spread: 8-1 straight up as favorites, but only three covers in nine.
