College Basketball Best Bets, Nov. 15: Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs Georgetown Hoyas

Vaughn Dalzell is forecasting a team total bet for the showdown between the Georgetown Hoyas and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

Georgetown at Rutgers (-8.5): O/U 134.5

Under the leadership of Ed Cooley, the 2023-24 Georgetown roster boasts 11 newcomers and four returners from a 7-25 squad. With a starting lineup consisting of four transfers and one freshman, the team faces a challenging first true road test of the season.

Following a disappointing 68-67 home loss to Holy Cross, where they were outperformed 22-10 down the stretch and exhibited better three-point shooting than two-point shooting, the Hoyas are gearing up for a tough matchup.

On the other hand, Rutgers experienced an early season neutral court loss to Princeton (68-61) but rebounded with impressive home victories over Boston University (69-45) and Bryant (66-57). In these games, Rutgers strategically focused on rebounding and three-point defense, leading to success in the first halves of both contests.

The Scarlet Knights’ recent performance showcases their ability to restrict opponents to 22.9% shooting from beyond the arc and dominate the rebounding battle. These are areas where the visiting Hoyas are likely to struggle, along with free-throw shooting (57.9%).

Notably, in their five non-conference home games last year, Rutgers limited opponents to an average of 49.0 points per game. This season, they held Boston University and Bryant to 45 and 57 points, respectively.

Considering Georgetown’s scoring output in their previous non-conference road games, along with their poor road record from the previous season, it’s apparent that the team faces an uphill battle in this road game under Ed Cooley’s leadership.

For the upcoming matchup, the play is on Georgetown’s Team Total Under 62.5 at -110 odds, with a potential to consider a lower total of 60.5. It’s recommended to explore various sportsbooks to find the best possible number and offerings for team totals in college basketball.

Pick: Georgetown Team Total Under 62.5 (1u)
*odds courtesy of BetMGM

Season Record: 6-0 (100%) +6 units

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