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Another COVID-19 cancellation/postponement takes away a game for today, but the remaining matchup should still come through big time on the entertainment factor.
Game of the Day:
-Ohio State Buckeyes vs. No. 15 Rutgers Scarlet Knights
- Time/TV: 12:00 p.m. EST (BTN)
After suffering a heartbreaking loss in Columbus just over two weeks ago, the Scarlet Knights are hoping for revenge over the Buckeyes at the RAC in a Saturday matinee showdown.
Since their 12-point win over Rutgers, Ohio State dropped a nail-biter to Northwestern, blew out Nebraska, lost by 17 to Minnesota, and lost a matchup against Penn State to a COVID-19 postponement. In the first outing, the Buckeyes just obliterated Rutgers on the glass by a 20 board margin. Despite that, Rutgers led by eight with over nine minutes left in regulation. A deeper bench by Ohio State just proved too much down the stretch to overcome for a poor shooting Scarlet Knights squad.
Rutgers, meanwhile, got a five-point win over Purdue before suffering back-to-back losses to Iowa and Michigan State. The home loss to Iowa was a hard fought two point game last Saturday. Rutgers couldn’t slow down Luka Garza, but stifled the nation’s top offense while going just 4-for-12 from the free throw line. Against Michigan State, Rutgers suffered an absolute blowout, 68-45. Just like Ohio State, Rutgers was doubled-up on the glass by a margin of 20, and shot an abysmal 30.5-percent from the field.
The Buckeyes will be missing starting point guard CJ Walker, while Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell assured media that Geo Baker is good to go for the game despite rolling his ankle late against MSU earlier this week. With a home-court advantage and their backs against the wall, I think Rutgers comes out scrappy in this one and manages to right the ship after two tough losses in a deep Big Ten.
- Pick: Rutgers