NJIT Highlanders vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights prediction: Tariq Francis faces his old school, and NJIT still can't shoot
Rutgers' former NJIT guard leads a deeper, ball-hawking roster against a Highlanders offense that has scored 53.7 points a night and loses the glass badly.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights covered the closing spread (NJIT Highlanders +25.5). The game went over the closing total of 142.5.
| Spread | Rutgers -25.5 |
|---|---|
| Total (over/under) | 143.5 |
- Expect a slow game in which Rutgers' turnover pressure and rebounding edge turn NJIT's empty possessions into a long, steady lead.
- Tariq Francis against the program he started at: he led Rutgers' starters with 14 points in the opener despite a 5-of-14 shooting night.
- Rutgers is -24.5 with a 144.5 total, unmoved since our feed first saw it; NJIT's offense ranks 352nd in efficiency.
A homecoming against a cold offense
Tariq Francis began his college career at NJIT, and on Tuesday night in Piscataway he gets the Highlanders on his home floor. He returned to Rutgers for 2026-27 after averaging 17.0 points last season, and he led the starters with 14 in the opener against New Haven. He missed the Oct. 11 exhibition with an undisclosed injury but has played since, and no newer injury report has surfaced.
The team he left is struggling to score. NJIT's effective field goal percentage, which counts threes as 1.5 makes, sits at 38.8%, 353rd in Division I. The Highlanders are hitting 22.1% from three while still taking plenty of them. Returning guard David Bolden has made 19% of his field goals. The Highlanders' one efficient scorer has been UTSA transfer Matheo Coffi, and he barely shoots.
Possessions NJIT cannot spare
Rutgers has won the extra-possession battle so far. Its forced turnover rate is 26.6% of opponent possessions, 27th nationally. NJIT gives the ball away on 18.0% of its trips, which is middling, but a team shooting this poorly can't spend many trips without a shot.
The glass is worse for the visitors. NJIT has grabbed only 53.0% of available defensive rebounds, 360th of 364, and Rutgers is rebounding 38.2% of its own misses. Every missed Rutgers jumper is a live ball, and that is how a big favorite keeps adding points in the second half.
Slow pace, big number
Both teams play at 64.5 possessions per 40 minutes, tied at 340th, so this projects as a grinding game. NJIT has fallen behind early everywhere, averaging 22.3 first-half points, 356th nationally. It trailed Dayton 23-47 and Iona 19-39 at the break before rallying past Saint Peter's 54-52 on Brandon Stores Jr.'s buzzer-beating half-court three.
The spread asks Rutgers to replay its opener. The Scarlet Knights closed at -24.5 against New Haven and won 81-54. NJIT failed to cover as a 23.5-point underdog at Dayton, losing 58-89. The 144.5 total is the tension point: at this tempo, an NJIT offense this cold has to score for it to go over. These teams have met eight times, and Rutgers has won all eight.
A rebuilt Rutgers under Knight
This Rutgers team isn't last season's 14-20 group. Coach Steve Pikiell is focused on cancer treatment, and associate head coach Brandin Knight is running the team as interim head coach. The roster brings back 53.3% of last season's minutes, while NJIT returns just 37.8%, so last season's team numbers say little about either side.
The newcomers have already shown up. Coastal Carolina transfer Rasheed Jones scored 14 off the bench in the opener, and Darin Smith Jr. averaged 20.7 points last season at Central Connecticut. Rutgers used 15 players against New Haven, a depth edge NJIT can't match. Kansas State transfer Dorin Buca was recovering from a knee injury as of Oct. 18, and no newer update has surfaced.
NJIT Highlanders vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights line movement and odds
| Book | Highlanders ML | Knights ML | Highlanders spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM | +3000 | -10000 | +25.5 (-110) | o142.5 (-110) |
| BetRivers | — | — | +25.5 (-109) | o143.5 (-110) |
| DraftKings | +2200 | -8000 | +25.5 (-112) | o142.5 (-112) |
| ESPN BET | +3000 | -20000 | +25.5 (-110) | o142.5 (-110) |
| Fanatics | +3000 | -10000 | +25.5 (-115) | o142.5 (-110) |
| FanDuel | +3500 | -20000 | +24.5 (-102) | o142.5 (-110) |
| Hard Rock Bet | — | — | +25.5 (-110) | o143.5 (-110) |
| Caesars | — | — | +25.5 (-110) | o142.5 (-110) |
Where the money is on NJIT Highlanders vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights
On the Kalshi moneyline: NJIT Highlanders: 83% of bets, 13% of the money; Rutgers Scarlet Knights: 17% of bets, 87% of the money. On the Kalshi spread: Rutgers Scarlet Knights -26.5: 46% of bets, 57% of the money; NJIT Highlanders +26.5: 54% of bets, 43% of the money. On the Kalshi total: Over 143.5: 73% of bets, 13% of the money; Under 143.5: 27% of bets, 87% of the money.
Key players
- Tariq Francis (Rutgers): He averaged 17.0 points and shot 91.1% at the line last season, then opened this one with 14 points.
- Darin Smith Jr. (Rutgers): The Central Connecticut transfer averaged 20.7 points last season and posted 9 points and 6 rebounds in his Rutgers debut.
- Rasheed Jones (Rutgers): He hit 4 of 5 threes for 14 points off the bench against New Haven.
- Matheo Coffi (NJIT): The UTSA transfer carries a team-best 61.8% effective field goal percentage on a 13.9% usage rate.
- David Bolden (NJIT): He leads the team with 4.0 assists per game but is shooting 19% from the field.
- Brandon Stores Jr. (NJIT): He carries the team's highest usage at 26.2% and scored 15, including the game-winning half-court three, against Saint Peter's.
Numbers that matter
| NJIT effective FG% | 38.8% | Ranks 353rd of 364, the core reason the Highlanders average 53.7 points. |
|---|---|---|
| Rutgers forced turnover rate | 26.6% | 27th nationally, and pressure that punishes an offense with no margin for wasted trips. |
| NJIT defensive rebound % | 53.0% | 360th of 364, against a Rutgers team rebounding 38.2% of its misses. |
| Pace, both teams | 64.5 | Both rank 340th in possessions per 40 minutes, so this projects as a slow game against a 144.5 total. |
| Spread | -24.5 | Rutgers covered the same number in its 81-54 opener against New Haven. |
NJIT Highlanders vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights: quick answers
What was the final score of NJIT Highlanders vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights?
NJIT Highlanders 64, Rutgers Scarlet Knights 101 (final). Rutgers Scarlet Knights covered the closing spread (NJIT Highlanders +25.5). The game went over the closing total of 142.5.
Who is favored in NJIT Highlanders vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights?
Rutgers is favored by 25.5 points (Rutgers -25.5).
What is the over/under for NJIT Highlanders vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights?
The total is 143.5 points.
When is NJIT Highlanders vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights?
Tuesday, November 10, 2026 at 6:30 PM ET.
Has the line moved for NJIT Highlanders vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights?
Yes: NJIT Highlanders opened +24.5 and is now +25.5, and the total moved from 145.5 to 142.5 (consensus of the regulated US sportsbooks since we first saw the game).
Where is the money on NJIT Highlanders vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights?
On the Kalshi moneyline: NJIT Highlanders: 83% of bets, 13% of the money; Rutgers Scarlet Knights: 17% of bets, 87% of the money. On the Kalshi spread: Rutgers Scarlet Knights -26.5: 46% of bets, 57% of the money; NJIT Highlanders +26.5: 54% of bets, 43% of the money. On the Kalshi total: Over 143.5: 73% of bets, 13% of the money; Under 143.5: 27% of bets, 87% of the money.