Ohio State vs Rutgers Prediction 1/2/2026 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The Ohio State Buckeyes and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights will meet on Friday evening in a Big Ten matchup at Jersey Mike’s Arena in Piscataway, New Jersey.

Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Preview

The Ohio State Buckeyes enter Friday night’s contest with a 9–3 win‑loss record, including a 1–1 mark in Big Ten play. The Buckeyes have compiled wins over IU Indianapolis, Purdue Fort Wayne, Appalachian State, Notre Dame, Western Michigan, Mount St. Mary’s, and Northwestern, while dropping one game to the Pittsburgh Panthers. In the Ohio State Buckeyes 86–82 win over Northwestern earlier this month, forward Brandon Noel tallied 29 points on 13 of 15 shooting from the field. Noel also grabbed 7 rebounds in the game.

The Ohio State Buckeyes average 86.3 points (40th in the nation) on 50.9 percent shooting from the field (15th in the country) and 33.7 percent shooting from three‑point range per game. The Buckeyes are allowing opponents 71.9 points on 41.8 percent shooting from the field per game.

Senior guard Bruce Thornton leads the Ohio State Buckeyes backcourt averaging 21 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Senior forward Brandon Noel adds 7.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game, while freshman guard John Mobley Jr. contributes 14.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per contest.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights Betting Preview

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights enter Friday’s contest with a 7–6 record, including a 6–2 mark at home this season. The Scarlet Knights have compiled wins over Penn, UNLV, and Delaware State, while dropping games to Seton Hall, Michigan and Purdue and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. More recently, in the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 65–50 victory over the Delaware State Hornets three days ago, Rutgers forward Dylan Grant amassed 18 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and 1 block illustrating his ability to play at a high-level.

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights average 68.7 points on 40.3 percent shooting from the field and  32.3 percent shooting from behind the arc per contest. Defensively, the Scarlet Knights are allowing 72.8 points per game.

Sophomore forward Dylan Grant leads the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, averaging 14.4 points and 6.1 rebounds per game while shooting 48.8 percent from the field per game. Guard Tariq Francis adds 13.6 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists per contest. Center Emmanuel Ogbole provides the Scarlet Knights rebounding and interior efficiency averaging 5.3 points 7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, while guard Jamichael Davis contributes 7.6 points and 2.6 assists per contest as the primary facilitator.

Why the Ohio State Buckeyes Will Win

•             Quality offense. Through 12 games played this season, the Ohio State Buckeyes average 86.3 points per game which ranks 40th in the nation.

•             Balanced roster. Thornton, Noel, and Mobley Jr. provide scoring, rebounding, and playmaking ability.

•              Elite guard play. Bruce Thornton and John Mobley Jr. combine for over 35 points per game.

Why the Rutgers Scarlet Knights Will Win

•             Explosive guard play. Sophomore forward Dylan Grant leads the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, averaging 14.4 points and 6.1 rebounds per game while shooting 48.8 percent from the field per game.

•             Frontcourt presence. Center Emmanuel Ogbole provides the Scarlet Knights rebounding and interior efficiency averaging 5.3 points 7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.

Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights Prediction

This matchup features Ohio State’s efficient, high‑powered offense against a Rutgers team that leans heavily on rebounding and physicality to stay competitive. Expect the Buckeyes to rely on Bruce Thornton’s scoring efficiency and the balanced production from Mobley Jr. to stay competitive. If Ohio State can limit Rutgers offensive boards and avoid extended scoring droughts the Buckeyes overall team depth and efficiency should carry them to victory tomorrow night.

Hans Geevers's Pick: Ohio State TBA