The Michigan State Spartans (18-2, 8-1 Big Ten) take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (9-11, 2-7 Big Ten) at Jersey Mike's Arena in Piscataway, N.J. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1.
Michigan State is favored by 14.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -1800. The total is set at 136.5 points.
Here’s my Michigan State vs. Rutgers prediction and college basketball picks for January 27, 2026.
Michigan State vs Rutgers Prediction, Pick
My Pick: Jaxon Kohler Over Rebounds
My Michigan State vs Rutgers best bet is on Jaxon Kohler to go over his rebounds prop. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Michigan State vs. Rutgers Odds, Spread, Over/Under
| Michigan State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-14.5 -110 | 136.5 -110 / -110 | -1800 |
| Rutgers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+14.5 -110 | 136.5 -110 / -110 | +920 |
- Michigan State vs Rutgers spread: Michigan State -14.5
- Michigan State vs Rutgers over/under: 136.5 points
- Michigan State vs Rutgers moneyline: Michigan State -1800, Rutgers +920
Michigan State vs Rutgers Game Preview
Michigan State Spartans Betting Preview
In his 31st season at the helm, future Hall of Fame head coach Tom Izzo has led his 10th-ranked Spartans to an 18-2 overall record. Michigan State enters the heart of its Big Ten schedule having won 10 of its last 11 contests.
The Spartans are coming off a 43-point victory over the Terps this past Saturday, and enter Tuesday’s matchup with a ton of momentum.
Leading the way for Izzo’s bunch is 6-foot-1 sophomore point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. Over his first 20 games of the season, Fears is posting over 13 points per game, along with nine assists on average. He's coming off his best game of the season, tallying 17 points and a career-high 17 assists in Saturday’s win over Maryland.
Izzo’s offense ranks inside the top 50 in the country in offensive efficiency, according to KenPom. Michigan State has an extremely well-rounded lineup, with four of its five starters averaging double figures in scoring.
The Spartans' backcourt also features 6-foot-6 junior guard Coen Carr, a spectacular two-way player and one of the most athletic players in all of college basketball.
While Michigan State has been solid offensively over its first 20 games of its 2026 campaign, it's the play on the other end of the floor that makes it one of the most dangerous teams in the country.
The Spartans rank first in college basketball in defensive efficiency, according to KenPom. Izzo’s bunch is allowing just over 63 points per game, which is extremely impressive in a Big Ten loaded with offensive firepower.
Michigan State’s frontcourt features some stellar rim protectors in Carson Cooper and Jaxon Kohler. The two senior forwards have made it extremely difficult for opponents to find open looks near the basket and are both monsters on the glass.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights Betting Preview
After landing two of the top five recruits in the country this past season in Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper, the Scarlet Knights still failed to finish the 2025 season with a .500 record.
Rutgers’ 2026 season has been more of the same, having won just nine of its first 20 contests, with a 2-7 record thus far in Big Ten play.
Rutgers hired head coach Steve Pikiell in 2016 after his decade-long tenure as head coach at Stony Brook. Pikiell led the Scarlet Knights to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances over the 2021 and 2022 seasons, but he's struggled mightily in each of the last four seasons.
6-foot-1 junior point guard Tariq Francis has been the sole light in an atrocious 2026 season for Pikiell’s bunch, scoring 16 points per game for the Scarlet Knights.
Rutgers is scoring below 70 points per game, ranking 370th in college basketball. If its offensive output was not bad enough, Rutgers ranks outside the top 150 in the country in both offensive efficiency and defensive efficiency, according to KenPom.
How To Make Michigan State vs. Rutgers Picks
Despite playing Tuesday’s contest with Michigan State in the comfort of its own arena, Rutgers’ offensive woes will prove very problematic when matched up with the best defense in the sport.
For an offense failing to score 70 points per game, I just can't envision a scenario where the Scarlet Knights are able to keep this game close. There's no doubt that Izzo’s Spartans are due for regression, having won 10 of their last 11 games, but it's far more likely to come against Michigan on Friday night.
It's clearly Michigan State or pass on Tuesday night. That said, I'm a little reluctant to back Sparty to cover a big number on the road with its biggest matchup of the season coming on Friday.
Instead, I'll be taking a more unique approach to betting this matchup. Rutgers has been atrocious on the glass, which will prove extremely problematic when matched up with Michigan State’s elite frontcourt. I'll be taking a stab at Kohler to go over his rebound total.
My Pick: Jaxon Kohler Over Rebounds
