Penn State Nittany Lions vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights Picks and Predictions for Sunday March 8 2026

By: Kim Smith Published 03/08/2026, 12:30 AM ET

The Penn State Nittany Lions travel to Piscataway to face the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Sunday afternoon at Jersey Mike’s Arena. Tip-off for this Big Ten matchup is scheduled for 12:00 PM with the game broadcast on BTN. At the time of this writing the odds were not released. For more daily predictions and betting insights, be sure to check out our free college basketball picks.

Nittany Lions Looking to Finish Strong

Penn State enters this matchup with a 12-18 overall record and a 3-16 mark in Big Ten play. The Nittany Lions have struggled throughout conference competition but have still shown flashes of offensive ability during the season. Over their last five games, Penn State has recently lost to Ohio State 94-62, recently won over Iowa 71-69, recently lost to Nebraska 87-64, recently lost to Rutgers 85-72, and recently lost to Oregon 83-72.

Offensively, the Nittany Lions average 74.3 points per game while shooting 47 percent from the field. They also contribute 12.6 assists per contest and generate defensive pressure with 7.1 steals per game. However, one of their biggest issues this season has been on the defensive side, where they allow 79.6 points per game.

Another challenge for Penn State has been rebounding, as they average just 29.0 rebounds per game. Against more physical teams in the Big Ten, this has created second-chance opportunities for opponents. If the Nittany Lions want to remain competitive in this matchup, they will need to improve their defensive effort and limit easy scoring opportunities for Rutgers.

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Scarlet Knights Seeking Season Sweep

Rutgers enters this contest with a 12-18 overall record and a 5-14 conference record in Big Ten play. While the Scarlet Knights have had a difficult season overall, they have shown the ability to compete in several close games. In their last five contests, Rutgers has recently lost to Michigan State 91-87, recently won over Maryland 69-65, recently lost to Washington 79-72, recently lost to Minnesota 80-61, and recently won over Penn State 85-72.

The Scarlet Knights average 70.8 points per game this season while allowing 75.9 points per game. They shoot 42 percent from the field and average 11.8 assists per contest. Rutgers also averages 32.9 rebounds per game, giving them a slight advantage on the glass compared to Penn State.

Defensively, Rutgers has shown some ability to disrupt opponents with 3.3 blocks and 6.2 steals per game. Their interior defense and rebounding could be key factors in this matchup, especially against a Penn State team that has struggled on the boards throughout the season. If Rutgers can control the paint and capitalize on second-chance opportunities, they could find success once again against the Nittany Lions.

Penn State Nittany Lions vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights Pick

Rutgers Scarlet Knights - Spread

Rutgers already holds a recent win over Penn State after defeating the Nittany Lions 85-72 in their previous meeting. The Scarlet Knights’ rebounding advantage and defensive presence should once again play an important role in this matchup. With Penn State allowing nearly 80 points per game, Rutgers should have opportunities to generate offense both in the paint and in transition.

While neither team has had an especially strong season, Rutgers has shown slightly more consistency in Big Ten play and should benefit from the home-court advantage at Jersey Mike’s Arena. If the Scarlet Knights can control the glass and limit Penn State’s shooting efficiency, they should be able to cover the spread in this matchup.

Penn State Nittany Lions vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights Total Pick

Over

I like the over in this matchup because both teams have struggled defensively throughout the season. Penn State allows nearly 80 points per game, while Rutgers gives up close to 76 points per contest. Those defensive numbers often lead to higher-scoring games.

We already saw these teams combine for a fairly high total in their previous meeting, which Rutgers won 85-72. If the pace of this game is similar and both teams find offensive rhythm early, the total could climb quickly.

Final Score Prediction: Rutgers Scarlet Knights 78, Penn State Nittany Lions 71

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