Rutgers vs Notre Dame Picks and Prediction - November 25, 2025
Tuesday afternoon on the college hardwood, and we have a Rutgers vs Notre Dame prediction ready to rock and roll. This game is part of the GEICO Players Era Men's Championship at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas. Rutgers enters this game off an 85-60 loss to Tennessee to fall to 4-2 on the year. Notre Dame comes in off a 71-61 loss to Kansas and that drops them to 4-2 on the year. Read on to see our Rutgers vs Notre Dame prediction.
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Rutgers Loses Big To Tennessee
Rutgers Scarlet KnightsRutgers dropped to 4-2 after being overwhelmed by No. 16 Tennessee in Las Vegas on November 24, falling 85-60 in the opening round of the Players Era Festival. The Scarlet Knights hung around early but couldn’t withstand Ja’Kobi Gillespie’s hot shooting, as the Vols built a 26-point halftime lead and never looked back. Freshman Harun Zrno provided a spark with 14 points on 3-of-5 from deep, while Darren Buchanan Jr. added 13 points and Dylan Grant chipped in 10. Rutgers shot just 36.5% from the field and was outrebounded 43-28, underscoring the gap against elite competition.
The Scarlet Knights have leaned on Dylan Grant and Tariq Francis to carry the scoring load, with Grant averaging 15.5 points and 6.3 rebounds while Francis adds 13.8 points per game. Buchanan has been steady at 8.5 points per game, and Jamichael Davis contributes with perimeter shooting at 41.7% from three. Rutgers has struggled to find consistent offense, averaging just 71.8 points per game and ranking outside the top 300 nationally in field goal percentage. Their strength lies in flashes of individual scoring, but they’ve yet to find a rhythm as a unit.
Defensively, Rutgers has been respectable, allowing 68 points per game and holding opponents to 40.1% shooting, but their perimeter defense has been a glaring weakness. Opponents are hitting 37.1% from three, which ranks near the bottom nationally, and Tennessee exploited that with 11 made threes. The Scarlet Knights rebound adequately at 35.2 boards per game, but they lack size and depth in the frontcourt. Against Notre Dame, Rutgers will need to tighten up on the perimeter and rely on Grant and Francis to generate offense if they hope to bounce back from the lopsided loss.
Notre Dame Falls By 10 To Kansas
Notre Dame also sits at 4-2 after dropping a 71-61 decision to Kansas on November 24 in their Players Era Festival opener. The Irish trailed by seven at halftime and cut the deficit to four midway through the second half, but missed opportunities in transition and cold shooting from deep (0-for-8 in the second half) doomed their comeback bid. Markus Burton was the standout, scoring a game-high 24 points, while Jalen Haralson added 13. Kansas controlled the paint with Flory Bidunga and Bryson Tiller combining for 35 points and 18 rebounds, leaving Notre Dame searching for answers inside.
Burton has been the engine all season, averaging 20.2 points per game while shooting nearly 92% from the free-throw line. Braeden Shrewsberry has provided perimeter balance with 11 points per game on 51% from three, and Jalen Haralson adds 12.6 points and 3.8 rebounds. Carson Towt has been a force on the boards, pulling down 12.2 rebounds per game, giving Notre Dame a reliable interior presence. The Irish average 79.8 points per game and shoot 47.7% from the field, ranking among the top 100 nationally in efficiency.
Defensively, Notre Dame has been solid, allowing 68.3 points per game and holding opponents to 42.8% shooting. They’ve been particularly effective against the three, limiting opponents to 30.6%, which could be critical against a Rutgers team that relies on streaky perimeter shooting. The Irish don’t rebound at an elite level, averaging 35 boards per game, but Towt’s presence helps stabilize the frontcourt. Against Rutgers, Notre Dame will look to Burton to control tempo and attack off the dribble, while Shrewsberry and Haralson provide spacing. If they can dictate pace and force Rutgers into contested shots, the Irish are well-positioned to rebound from their loss to Kansas.
Rutgers vs Notre Dame Pick
| # | Handicapper | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Earle Sports Bets | +2,298.00 |
| 2 |  Ross Benjamin | +1,840.00 |
| 3 |  Rob Vincilleti | +1,757.00 |
| 4 |  David Hess | +1,745.00 |
| 5 |  Dan Kaiser | +987.00 |
Rutgers vs Notre Dame Spread Pick
- Notre Dame -7.5 (5 Units)
Notre Dame -7.5 looks like the right side given the way the Irish have been playing compared to Rutgers. Markus Burton has emerged as one of the most reliable guards in the ACC, averaging over 20 points per game while shooting nearly 92% from the line, and his ability to control tempo gives Notre Dame a clear edge. Braeden Shrewsberry has been lights out from deep at 51%, and Jalen Haralson adds another scoring option with 12.6 points per game. With Carson Towt dominating the glass at 12.2 rebounds per game, the Irish have the balance of perimeter shooting and interior presence that Rutgers simply hasn’t matched. Rutgers, meanwhile, is averaging just 71.8 points per game and ranks outside the top 300 in field goal percentage, which makes it difficult to see them keeping pace with Notre Dame’s efficiency.
Defensively, Notre Dame has also been stronger, holding opponents to 68.3 points per game and limiting them to 30.6% from three, while Rutgers has struggled badly against perimeter shooting, allowing opponents to hit 37.1% from deep. That mismatch plays directly into Notre Dame’s strengths, as Burton and Shrewsberry can stretch the floor and punish defensive lapses. Rutgers relies heavily on Dylan Grant and Tariq Francis for offense, but the Irish have the depth and defensive discipline to contain them. With Notre Dame’s ability to score efficiently, rebound consistently, and defend the perimeter, laying the 7.5 points feels justified in this matchup.
Rutgers vs Notre Dame Over/Under Pick
- Under 142.5 (4 Units)
The Under 142.5 lines up well because both Rutgers and Notre Dame have shown defensive consistency while neither offense has been explosive. Rutgers averages just 71.8 points per game and ranks outside the top 300 nationally in field goal percentage, while Notre Dame, though more efficient at 47.7% shooting, tends to play at a controlled pace and averages 79.8 points per game. Both teams allow fewer than 69 points per game, and the Irish in particular defend the perimeter well, holding opponents to 30.6% from three, which directly counters Rutgers’ streaky outside shooting. With both sides leaning on half-court sets and disciplined defense, this matchup projects to stay below the 142.5 total.
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