The 2024-25 college basketball season officially tipped off this week. The No. 25 Rutgers Scarlet Knights host the Wagner Seahawks in a non-conference matchup on Wednesday. Last season, the Scarlet Knights finished with a 15-17 record, but have high hopes for a turnaround this season due to some high-profile additions. Meanwhile, Wagner went 17-16 last season and notched its first-ever NCAA Tournament berth. The Seahawks beat Howard 71-68 in a First Four matchup before falling to North Carolina.
Tipoff from Jersey Mike's Arena in Piscataway, NJ., is at 6 p.m. ET. After opening at -19, the Scarlet Knights are now 17.5-point favorites in the latest Rutgers vs. Wagner odds via SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 129.5. Before making any Wagner vs. Rutgers picks, you need to see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The model simulates every Division 1 college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters the 2024-25 season on a 153-110 betting roll (+1891) on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to 2023. Anyone following at sportsbooks and on betting apps has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has dialed in on Wagner vs. Rutgers and just revealed its coveted picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are the college basketball betting lines and trends for Rutgers vs. Wagner.
- Rutgers vs. Wagner spread: Scarlet Knights -17.5
- Rutgers vs. Wagner over/under: 129.5 points
- Rutgers vs. Wagner money line: Scarlet Knights -2041, Seahawks +1063
- WAG: Wagner has won 10 of its last 16 away games
- RUTG: Rutgers has hit the Under in 22 of its last 32 games
- Rutgers vs. Wagner picks: See picks here
- Rutgers vs. Wagner streaming: FuboTV (Try for free)
Why Rutgers can cover
Anticipation is sky-high for a Rutgers squad that brought in two elite recruits -- Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper, ranked No. 2 and No. 3, respectively in the class by 247Sports. Bailey is an athletic three-level scorer who has the bounce to rise above the rim with ease. Last season at McEachern High School, Bailey averaged 33.4 points, 15.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.9 blocks per game. In a scrimmage against St. John's, Bailey had 25 points and five boards.
Harper is another freshman phenom for the Scarlet Knights who thrives in the pick-and-roll and has great slashing ability. He also plays a high-energy defender. Last year at Don Bosco, Harper averaged 22.4 points per game. In the scrimmage versus St. John's, he dropped 20 points, four rebounds and one steal. He also made two 3-pointers. See who to back at SportsLine.
Why Wagner can cover
Senior guard Zaire Williams is returning to Wagner and gives them a ball handler and shot creator in the backcourt. Williams can knock down a shot from the perimeter while getting into the lane consistently. Last season, he averaged 9.3 points and 2.1 rebounds. He tore his meniscus and only played in nine games but scored in double figures in four games.
Senior guard Javier Ezquerra is a nice ball handler and facilitator in the backcourt. Ezquerra has good court vision to get his teammates involved. The Puerto Rico native led the team in assists (4.4) with seven points and 3.9 rebounds per game last season. He's logged at least 10 points and 5-plus assists in seven games last campaign. See who to back at SportsLine.
How to make Wagner vs. Rutgers picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Under on the total, projecting 125 combined points. It also says one side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations. You can see the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Wagner vs. Rutgers, and which side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that is up well over $2,000 on top-rated spread picks since its inception, and find out.