Time:<\/strong> 8:30 PM ET \/ 5:30 PM PT
Broadcast:<\/strong> Peacock
Location:<\/strong> Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Spread:<\/strong> USC -1.5 | Total: 152.5<\/p>\n\n\n\n
USC vs Rutgers Betting Preview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
UCLA’s Mick Cronin drew plenty of headlines in January, calling out his players for not playing with toughness and criticizing the Big Ten for the Bruins’ travel schedule. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For all intents and purposes, that strategy worked as UCLA earned a top-4 seed in the Big Ten Tournament and the Bruins will have a double-bye to the quarterfinals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
USC’s Eric Musselman doesn’t make too many headlines, but he’s following in his rivals’ footsteps this week. USC lost six of its last seven games, and Musselman has cracked open the truth serum this week. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He criticized the Big Ten Network for how they covered his team. He criticized his players for not increasing their intensity heading into the UCLA rivalry game. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He criticized the Big Ten for the Trojans’ late-season travel schedule. Musselman has never been a particularly-good coach in tournament settings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In five seasons at Arkansas, Musselman never made it past the second round of the SEC Tournament. The Trojans participated in a four-team event earlier this year with Saint Mary’s, New Mexico and Arizona State. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
USC lost its two games by a combined score of 154-109. USC won two games outside the Western Time Zone all season: At Illinois (who was missing Kasparas Jakucionis) and at Nebraska (who didn’t qualify for the Big Ten Tournament). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dylan Harper plus Ace Bailey experiment in Piscataway was a flop, but the Scarlet Knights still have two NBA-caliber players on their roster. USC can’t say that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
USC vs Rutgers Predictions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Rutgers won the regular season meeting 95-85 in late-February as Harper and Bailey combined for 39 points and 12 assists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rutgers closed the regular season on a high note with an overtime win over Minnesota. Take a look at the path for the winner of this game. Purdue has lost five of its last seven games. Michigan has lost its last three and the Wolverines have been playing with fire for the last two months. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Steve Pikiell is a very good coach, and if he can get Harper and Bailey motivated for one more run before the NBA comes calling, there is a path for the Scarlet Knights to make some noise in Indianapolis this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
USC vs Rutgers Prediction: Rutgers +1.5<\/h3>\n\n\n\nGoldSheet Top Picks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Whether you enjoy written analysis, breaking down stats or creating your own power ratings, The Basketball GoldSheet has something for everyone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Basketball GoldSheet newsletter features stat breakdowns for every NBA and college basketball game each day, plus in-depth written analysis on our Key Releases by 12pm ET \/ 9am PT each morning. Grab a 30-day pass for just over $2 per day and we’ll see you on the hardwood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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