Wisconsin Badgers Defeat Rutgers Scarlet Knights 96-87
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 2:00 PM ET · Kohl Center
Wisconsin Badgers 96, Rutgers Scarlet Knights 87, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
The next free pick, for your email
Team, bet, price and the hash it was sealed under, on this page the moment you send. Lose or win, it stays public.
or by email
Public record of the main pick, losses included: 115 won, 44 lost. See every pick
One free pick a day by email until you unsubscribe, in one click. 21+.
Quick answers
Who won Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs Wisconsin Badgers?
Wisconsin Badgers beat Rutgers Scarlet Knights 96-87 at Kohl Center on January 17, 2026.
Who was favored in Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs Wisconsin Badgers?
Wisconsin Badgers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -1650 (about 94% implied). The favorite won.
The Wisconsin Badgers secured a notable victory against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, finishing the game with a score of 96-87 at the Kohl Center. This matchup was particularly interesting as it showcased Wisconsin's strong home performance against an away team struggling to find consistency. The Badgers improved their record to 14-5, while the Scarlet Knights fell to 9-10.
Wisconsin entered this game with a solid recent form, boasting a record of 7-3 in their last ten games and riding a three-game winning streak. They averaged 79.7 points scored per game while allowing 76.0 points. Their last five games saw them score an average of 80.4 points, indicating a potent offense. In contrast, Rutgers had a more mixed performance, recording a 5-5 record in their last ten games, with their most recent match resulting in a win against Northwestern. The Scarlet Knights averaged 69.2 points scored and allowed 76.8 points during this stretch, which highlighted their struggles on the offensive end.
At home, Wisconsin's record stood at 6-1, showcasing their dominance at the Kohl Center, while Rutgers struggled on the road with an 0-4 record in away games this season. This disparity in home and away performance added to the anticipation of the matchup, as Wisconsin aimed to maintain their strong home form.
The two teams had met previously in the 2025 season, where Wisconsin also emerged victorious with a score of 75-63, further establishing their recent dominance over Rutgers. This history added an extra layer of intrigue to the fixture, as the Badgers looked to continue their winning ways against the Scarlet Knights.
In terms of injuries, the block did not specify any significant player absences for either team, suggesting both sides were at full strength for this encounter. This was crucial as both teams sought to field their best lineups to secure a vital win.
The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had Wisconsin heavily favored with a spread of -15.5, indicating strong confidence in their ability to win decisively. The total points line was set at 149.5, reflecting expectations for a high-scoring game given both teams' recent scoring trends.
Conditions for the game were typical for a mid-January evening in Wisconsin, with a lively atmosphere expected at the Kohl Center as fans supported their home team. The matchup promised a blend of offensive firepower and strategic play, with viewers encouraged to watch for Wisconsin's ability to exploit their home court advantage and Rutgers' efforts to overcome their away-game struggles.
Overall, the game provided an exciting showcase of college basketball, with Wisconsin's offensive efficiency proving too much for Rutgers, ultimately leading to a well-earned victory.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | WIS -15.5 | 149.5 o -112 / u -108 | Rutgers Scarlet Knights +950 · Wisconsin Badgers -1650 |
Leaders
- PointsNick Boyd32Wisconsin Badgers
- AssistsNick Boyd9Wisconsin Badgers
- ReboundsJohn Blackwell5Wisconsin Badgers
- PointsHarun Zrno21Rutgers Scarlet Knights
- AssistsKaden Powers5Rutgers Scarlet Knights
- ReboundsEmmanuel Ogbole9Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Recent form
Wisconsin Badgers
Last 10: 7-3Streak W379.7 scored · 76 allowed per game5-1 at home
- W78-75at Minnesota Golden GophersJan 14
- W91-88at Michigan WolverinesJan 10
- W80-72vs UCLA BruinsJan 7
- L73-89vs Purdue BoilermakersJan 4
- W80-60vs Milwaukee PanthersDec 31
- W88-61vs Central Michigan ChippewasDec 23
- L66-76at Villanova WildcatsDec 20
- L60-90at Nebraska CornhuskersDec 11
- W96-76vs Marquette Golden EaglesDec 6
- W85-73vs Northwestern WildcatsDec 4
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Last 10: 5-5Streak W169.2 scored · 76.8 allowed per game0-3 away
- W77-75vs Northwestern WildcatsJan 11
- L55-81at Illinois Fighting IlliniJan 9
- W88-85vs Oregon DucksJan 6
- L73-80vs Ohio State BuckeyesJan 3
- W65-50vs Delaware State HornetsDec 30
- W70-69vs Pennsylvania QuakersDec 21
- L59-81at Seton Hall PiratesDec 14
- L60-101at Michigan WolverinesDec 6
- L65-81vs Purdue BoilermakersDec 3
- W80-65vs UNLV RebelsNov 27
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 37-3 | - | 19-1 |
| Nebraska | 28-7 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Michigan State | 27-8 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Illinois | 28-9 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Wisconsin | 24-11 | 5 | 14-6 |
| Purdue | 30-9 | 6 | 13-7 |
| UCLA | 24-12 | 6 | 13-7 |
| Ohio State | 21-13 | 7 | 12-8 |
| Iowa | 24-13 | 9 | 10-10 |
| Indiana | 18-14 | 10 | 9-11 |
| Minnesota | 15-18 | 11 | 8-12 |
| USC | 18-14 | 12 | 7-13 |
| Washington | 16-17 | 12 | 7-13 |
| Rutgers | 14-20 | 13 | 6-14 |
| Northwestern | 15-19 | 14 | 5-15 |
| Oregon | 12-20 | 14 | 5-15 |
| Maryland | 12-21 | 15 | 4-16 |
| Penn State | 12-20 | 16 | 3-17 |
Box score
| Stat | Rutgers Scarlet Knights | Wisconsin Badgers |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 30-63 | 29-60 |
| Field goal % | 48 | 48 |
| Three-pointers | 12-30 | 12-30 |
| Three-point % | 40 | 40 |
| Free throws | 15-19 | 26-29 |
| Free throw % | 79 | 90 |
| Rebounds | 33 | 29 |
| Offensive rebounds | 11 | 8 |
| Defensive rebounds | 22 | 21 |
| Assists | 17 | 20 |
| Steals | 4 | 6 |
| Blocks | 3 | 1 |
| Turnovers | 10 | 9 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 4 | 19 |
| Fast-break points | 13 | 15 |
| Points in the paint | 24 | 32 |
| Fouls | 24 | 19 |
| Largest lead | 2 | 26 |
| Lead changes | 3 | 3 |
| Time in front | 3 | 95 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half54-73Andrew Rohde makes layup
- 2nd Half56-73Emmanuel Ogbole makes 3-foot dunk
- 2nd Half56-75Nick Boyd makes driving layup (Nolan Winter assists)
- 2nd Half56-76Nick Boyd makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half59-76Harun Zrno makes 25-foot three point jumper (Tariq Francis assists)
- 2nd Half59-77Andrew Rohde makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half59-78Andrew Rohde makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half62-78Harun Zrno makes 25-foot three point jumper (Kaden Powers assists)
- 2nd Half65-78Darren Buchanan Jr. makes 25-foot three point jumper (Kaden Powers assists)
- 2nd Half67-78Jamichael Davis makes driving layup
- 2nd Half67-79Nick Boyd makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-80Nick Boyd makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half70-80Jamichael Davis makes 25-foot three point jumper (Kaden Powers assists)
- 2nd Half71-80Harun Zrno makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half72-80Harun Zrno makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half72-81Nick Boyd makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half73-81Bryce Dortch makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half74-81Bryce Dortch makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half74-83Nick Boyd makes driving layup
- 2nd Half74-84Nick Boyd makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half74-85Nolan Winter makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half74-86Nolan Winter makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half74-87Nick Boyd makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half74-88Nick Boyd makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half76-88Tariq Francis makes 14-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half77-88Harun Zrno makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half78-88Harun Zrno makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half78-89John Blackwell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half78-90John Blackwell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half78-91John Blackwell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half78-92John Blackwell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half79-92Harun Zrno makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half80-92Harun Zrno makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half80-94Nolan Winter makes 14-foot dunk (Nick Boyd assists)
- 2nd Half81-94Tariq Francis makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half82-94Tariq Francis makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half82-95Nick Boyd makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half82-96Nick Boyd makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half84-96Bryce Dortch makes 3-foot dunk
- 2nd Half87-96Harun Zrno makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jamichael Davis assists)
Win probability
Above the line favours Wisconsin Badgers, below favours Rutgers Scarlet Knights.
Venue
- Kohl CenterMadison, WI
- Attendance15140
- OfficialsLarry Scirotto, Nate Harris, Brian McNutt
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond