The Columbia Lions and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights meet Monday in college basketball action from the Jersey Mike’s Arena. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Columbia vs. Rutgers prediction.

Columbia Recap

The Columbia Lions come into this game looking to add on to an 85-72 win over Fairfield last time out. After this game, Columbia will begin conference play against Cornell at home.

Lions Win Third Straight

Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa leads the Lions in scoring with 19.6 PPG along with 3.4 RPG and 2.6 APG while Kenny Noland has 12.7 PPG with 3.3 RPG and a team-high 3.3 APG as Columbia’s leading assist man and the only other double-digit scorer for Columbia so far this season. Avery Brown has 9.6 PPG with 2.9 APG and Blair Thompson has 9.4 PPG with a team-high 6.5 RPG to lead the Lions in rebounding. As a team, Columbia is averaging 83.3 PPG on 50.9% shooting from the field, 37.2% from three and 75.5% from the foul line this season.

Why the Columbia Lions will win

• Columbia has won 11 of its last 12 games.
• Rutgers has lost six of its last seven day games.

Rutgers Recap

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights come into this one looking to bounce back from an 83-82 loss to Princeton last time out. After this game, Rutgers will head on the road for a matchup with Indiana in conference play.

Scarlet Knights Looking For Rebound Performance

Dylan Harper leads the Scarlet Knights in scoring and assists with 23.3 PPG and 4.2 APG while Ace Bailey has 17.6 PPG and a team-high 7.6 RPG to lead the Scarlet Knights on the glass as the only other double-digit scorer for Rutgers up to this point in the year. Jeremiah Williams also has 7.7 PPG and Lathan Sommerville has 7.5 PPG with 3.9 RPG. Jordan Derkack’s also added 7.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG and 2.8 APG as well on the year. As a team, Rutgers is averaging 78.8 PPG on 46.2% shooting from the field, 33.8% from three and 71.6% from the foul line this season.

Why the Rutgers Scarlet Knights will win

• Rutgers has won each of its last 27 day games against non-Conference opponents at Jersey Mike’s Arena.
• Columbia has lost 14 of its last 15 road day games against non-Conference opponents.

Columbia vs. Rutgers Prediction

I’m on Columbia and the points here. I just don’t trust Rutgers laying a massive number like this, and the Lions have been competitive up to this point and have done a good job of winning their fair share of games out of the gate. We’ll have to see if that’s sustainable throughout conference play but I think this is a game that Rutgers wins but Columbia covers. Give me the Lions and the points.