The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are striving to escape the bottom of the Big Ten standings and secure a position in the forthcoming conference tournament.
The Scarlet Knights have secured two consecutive victories, ascending in the standings to enhance their prospects for a postseason berth. However, the task remains incomplete.
Rutgers journeys to Ann Arbor for a contest against the Michigan Wolverines this evening, with prominent freshman Dylan Harper in the forefront.
I anticipate Harper’s performance versus UM, supporting this with my top predictions for the Rutgers vs. Michigan matchup and college basketball selections for February 27.
Prediction for Rutgers versus Michigan
My optimal choice
Dylan Harper Exceeding 17.5 points (-115 at bet365)
My assessment
Dylan Harper’s recent performances have elevated the 6-foot-6 guard’s position in the NBA Draft rankings.
The rookie has scored 20 or more points in four of his last six games since returning from an ankle injury on February 4, including 25 and 34 points in Rutgers’ recent victories against Washington and USC, respectively.
As the Rutgers Scarlet Knights approached the possibility of missing the Big Ten tournament, Harper focused intently. He achieved a total of 18-for-31 shooting in those triumphs, comprising 8-for-16 from three-point range.
He was absent from the initial encounter with the Michigan Wolverines owing to an ankle injury sustained on February 1—a match that Rutgers may have triumphed in had Harper been fit. The Scarlet Knights faced UM as 6.5-point home underdogs, ultimately losing 66-63 but managing to cover the spread.
Notwithstanding the narrow conclusion of the previous game, the betting markets for tonight anticipate Rutgers trailing and need Harper to bear the scoring responsibility.
He is a prolific shooter in away games, averaging over 15 field goal attempts (compared to fewer than 13 at home), including more than six attempts from three-point range. Since returning from injury, Harper has increased his activity from long range, attempting eight shots from beyond the arc in each of the last three games.
Although team objectives remain paramount, this may indeed serve as a business trip for Harper, who is presently anticipated to be a Top 3 selection, alongside Duke prodigy Cooper Flagg and teammate Ace Bailey.
With Rutgers’ postseason prospects unresolved and an NCAA Tournament berth unattainable, Harper has few opportunities to enhance his draft stock and secure a Top 3 selection along with its financial benefits.
Player estimates are unequivocal regarding Harper’s potential this evening. Most models exceed 16 points, with some surpassing 20, and a maximum of 27 points. I project Harper will score nearly 20 points, prompting me to wager on him exceeding 17.5 points as Rutgers’ standout player.
Harper has been vigorously working to qualify Rutgers for the Big Ten tournament. I anticipate he will score approximately 20 points this evening.
Harper has been unreserved in attempting long-range shots in recent games, and the Knights will be down, necessitating increased 3-point attempts.
The game predictions favor a decisive victory for UM; nevertheless, given the NBA-caliber talent present for Rutgers, I will go for a straightforward bet on the Wolverines to win outright instead of covering the substantial spread.
