Hofstra at Rutgers

This is a down spot for Hofstra. Hofstra tied for first in the Colonial Athletic Association and was hoping for more but lost in the semifinals to UNC-Wilmington as a 7-point favorite, 79-73. That snapped a 12-game winning streak. They stepped once to play a Big 10 team, getting crushed by Purdue, 85-66. No. 1 seeded Rutgers has home court and just lost a close one to that Purdue squad, 70-65, getting the cover, one game after knocking off Michigan as an underdog, 62-50. Rutgers was No. 1 in the Big 10 defensively in points allowed (60.3 ppg) and field goal shooting allowed (.394%). They have a big and experienced lineup with guards 6-7 senior Caleb McConnell and 6-4 senior Cam Spencer (12.9 ppg), and a frontcourt of 6-11 junior Clifford Omoruyi (13.2 ppg, 9.7 rpg) and 6-6 junior Aundre Hyatt (8.9 ppg). Rutgers is 13-1 ATS at home against teams that shoot 45% or better from the field, plus 20-9 ATS versus teams that allow 42% or less shooting. Rutgers beat the No. 1 team in the country for the second-straight year after a 65-64 win at Purdue. Rutgers is also 12-4 ATS at home after spread cover and 24-14 ATS versus teams that outscore their opponents by 4+ points per game. Play Rutgers.