The Michigan State Spartans (24-5) can lock up the second seed of the Big Ten tournament with a win tonight. The Rutgers Scarlet Knights (12-17), meanwhile, have won three of their last five since a seven-game losing streak.
With that said, the Scarlet Knights own their worst conference record (5-13) since winning just three league games in 2018.
Let’s look at a Rutgers vs. Michigan State prediction for Thursday’s tussle at Jack Breslin Student Events Center in East Lansing, tipping off at 8:00 p.m. ET on FS1.
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Rutgers vs. Michigan State Prediction, Spread, Over/Under
The Scarlet Knights squandered a 12-point lead in an 88-79 home overtime defeat to the Spartans on January 27.
Michigan State has won three straight meetings with Rutgers, although the Scarlet Knights have covered the past two matchups.
Rutgers has never won at Michigan State since entering the Big Ten in 2014. The last time the Scarlet Knights beat the Spartans came in 2023, a 61-55 triumph as 4.5-point favorites.
Rutgers vs. Michigan State Spread, Over/Under
The Spartans enter this matchup as 19.5-point favorites, returning a 1.01x payout on PrizePicks Team Picks if they win outright.
The Scarlet Knights are road underdogs with a 14.28x payout if they win, where you can earn money with your picks in 34 states.
- Spread: Michigan State Spartans -19.5
- Over/Under: 139.5
- Game Winner Payout: Rutgers 14.28x | Michigan State 1.01x
Team Picks data is live as of writing and is subject to change.
Rutgers vs. Michigan State Prediction on Spread
Here are some key stats to know before locking in your Rutgers vs. Michigan State prediction on spread for Thursday, March 5 on PrizePicks.
- Rutgers snapped a two-game losing streak in Sunday’s 69-65 victory at Maryland as 5.5-point underdogs.
- The Scarlet Knights started 0-6 on the road in conference play but are 2-1 in the last three away from Piscataway. They've covered the spread in five of their last seven away contests.
- Head coach Tom Izzo’s squad owns a 4-9 against-the-spread (ATS) mark as a double-digit favorite.
- In the comeback win at Rutgers, the Spartans failed to cash as 14.5-point favorites.
- In four of the last six games, the Scarlet Knights have allowed 33% or worse on 3-point shooting.
- Michigan State has not fared well in the turnover department in conference play, sitting 15th in turnover rate (18%) and 14th in fewest turnovers forced (14%).
Rutgers vs. Michigan State Picks for PrizePicks Today: 3/5/26
Here are three top Rutgers vs. Michigan State picks to target on Thursday. Key PrizePicks player projections are headlined by three players: Michigan State PG Jeremy Fears, Rutgers G Tariq Francis, and Spartans F Coen Carr.
Michigan State PG Jeremy Fears vs. Rutgers Projection: 26.5 Pts + Asts
- The sophomore leads the Spartans, averaging 15.1 points per game (PPG) and 9.1 assists per game (APG).
- Fears has averaged 10.1 APG in the last seven games, including dishing out 9 dimes against Indiana.
- In seven of the last 10 games, Fears passed this projection and posted 18.7 PPG and 11.4 APG in this stretch.
- Fears put up 29 points and 9 assists against Rutgers in January, knocking down a season-high 16 free throws in the win.
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Rutgers G Tariq Francis vs. Michigan State Projection: 17.5 Points
- The junior has recorded double-digit scoring in 13 straight games, capped off by a 19-point effort against Maryland.
- Francis shot 6-of-17 from the floor in the aforementioned loss to Michigan State.
- In six of nine road conference games, Francis has compiled fewer than 15 points.
- Francis has been held to 42.3% shooting on 2-point attempts in the last seven games. MSU ranks second in Big Ten play in defensive 2-point shooting at 48.6%.
Michigan State F Coen Carr vs. Rutgers Projection: 12 Points
- In the last three outings, Carr has been held to 11 or fewer points, including a 6-point output against Indiana.
- In five of the last seven home games, the junior hasn’t reached this projection. His top effort during this stretch was a 16-point performance against UCLA on February 17.
- Coen has scored only 10 points from the free throw line in his past seven contests in East Lansing.
Make Rutgers vs. #8 Michigan State Picks on PrizePicks
The Spartans don’t want to be caught in a look-ahead spot with a battle against Michigan on Saturday. Can Rutgers pull off the upset and avenge that overtime loss against MSU tonight?
You can make your Rutgers vs. Michigan State picks on PrizePicks and PrizePicks Team Picks to earn real money. Just pick players, predict More or Less on their projected stats, and cash in if you’re correct. With Team Picks, make predictions on winners, spreads, and over/unders, now available in 34 states.
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