Opening Line: Unbeaten Indiana Modest Favorite in Big Ten Opener at Rutgers

Unbeaten Indiana has a huge challenge in its Big Ten opener on Saturday, taking on a Rutgers team that is very hard to beat at home. The Hoosiers are slight favorites. Here are all the numbers on the point spread, plus both team's histories vs. the number this season.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Indiana opens its Big Ten season on Saturday in one of the toughest environments in the league, taking on Rutgers in the quaint — and very loud — 8,000-seat on-campus Jersey Mike's Arena. 

The Hoosiers, who have lost five straight games to Rutgers, are 7-0 so far this season and cruising, covering in six of the seven games as well. They're ranked No. 10 in the country and knocked off No. 18 North Carolina on Wednesday. Now comes Rutgers.

According to the opening line on SI Sportsbook on Saturday morning, Indiana is now a 3-point favorite. The over/under is 134.5 for the Big Ten opener. That's the lowest over/under total all season. Rutgers is a tough place to win. The Scarlet Knights were 8-2 in home conference games a year ago, beating Indiana, No. 1-ranked Purdue, and ranked teams Michigan State (13), Ohio State (16) and Illinois (12).

The game starts at 4 p.m. ET at Jersey Mike's Arena in New Jersey. Here's how to watch: CLICK HERE

Indiana has moved up one notch in the Associated Press poll every week, from No. 13 in the preseason to No. 10 now. After beating North Carolina, the preseason No. 1, on Wednesday, the Hoosiers could move up even further with a win on Saturday.

There could be some movement on this line today, considering the Rutgers' injury situation. We'll keep you updated, and will post the final line in our LIVE BLOG later today. HoosiersNow publisher Tom Brew is in New Jersey today and will be providing full coverage throughout the day

Here's what Indiana has done so far:

Indiana by the numbers

• Indiana overall record: 7-0
• Indiana overall vs. spread: 6-1
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• Indiana home record: 5-0
• Indiana home vs. spread: 4-1
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• Indiana road record: 1-0
• Indiana road vs spread: 1-0
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• Indiana neutral court record: 1-0
• Indiana neutral court vs. spread: 1-0

Indiana vs. the spread

Here's what Indiana has done this season, straight up and against the spread::

• Nov. 7 — Beat Morehead State 88-53 as a 24.5-point favorite (won)
• Nov. 10 — Beat Bethune-Cookman 101-49 as a 32.5-point favorite (won)
• Nov. 18 — Won at Xavier 81-79 as a 1.5-point favorite (won)
• Nov. 20 — Beat Miami of Ohio 86-56 as a 27.5-point favorite in Indianapolis (won)
• Nov. 23 — Beat Little Rock 86-67 as a 29..5-point favorite (lost)
• Nov. 25 — Beat Jackson State 90-51 as a 28.5-point favorite (won)
• Nov. 30 — Beat No. 18 North Carolina 77-65 as a 4.5-point favorite (won)

Rutgers vs. the spread

Rutgers is 5-2 on the season, with losses to unranked Temple and Miami, and is 4-3 against the spread. But at Jersey Mike's Arena, they are 5-0, and 4-1 vs. the number. Here's what Rutgers has done this season, straight up and against the spread:

• Nov. 7 — Beat Columbia 75-35 as a 19.5-point favorite (won)
• Nov. 10 —Beat Sacred Heart 88-50 as an 21.5-point favorite (won)
• No. 12 — Beat UMass-Lowell 73-65 as a 13.5-point favorite (lost)
• Nov. 18 — Lost to Temple 72-66 in Uncasville, Conn. as a 4.5-point favorite (lost)
• Nov. 22 — Beat Rider 76-46 as a 15.5-point favorite (won)
• Nov. 26 — Beat Central Connecticut 83-49 as a 26.5-point favorite (won)
• Nov. 30 — Lost at Miami 68-61 in ACC/Big Ten Challenge as 3.5-point underdog (lost) 

Related stories on Indiana basketball

• HOW TO WATCH INDIANA-RUTGERS: Indiana basketball (7-0) hits the road to face the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (5-2) on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET at Jersey Mike's Arena in Piscataway, N.J. Here's how to watch, with game time and TV information, three leading storylines, the latest on the point spread, the coaching matchup, series history and more. CLICK HERE
• GAME STORY, IU TOPS UNC: Trayce Jackson-Davis scored 21 points and guards Jalen Hood-Schifino and Xavier Johnson book-ended an emphatic 77-65 win over preseason No. 1 North Carolina on Wednesday night, leading the Hoosiers to their seventh straight win. CLICK HERE
• HOOD-SCHIFINO'S HOT START: Indiana freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino scored the Hoosiers' first seven points of Wednesday's game as the Hoosiers defeated against North Carolina 77-65 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. CLICK HERE
• CALEB LOVE FRUSTRATED AFTER LOSS: North Carolina shot 33.9 percent during its 77-65 loss at Indiana on Wednesday in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. For Caleb Love and coach Hubert Davis, there's plenty of frustrations and plenty to fix, but a lot of time to do so. CLICK HERE
• WHAT WOODSON SAID: Indiana basketball coach Mike Woodson thought the Hoosiers' 77-65 win over North Carolina on Wednesday was a total team effort. Here's the full transcript from his postgame press conference, with video attached. CLICK HERE
• WHAT JACKSON-DAVIS, HOOD-SCHIFINO SAID: Trayce Jackson-Davis led Indiana with 21 points and 10 rebounds, and freshman Jalen Hood-Schifino scored the Hoosiers' first seven points of the game. Following Indiana's 77-65 win over North Carolina, here's the full transcript of Jackson-Davis and Hood-Schifino's press conference with video attached. CLICK HERE
• PHOTO GALLERY: Indiana took on North Carolina on Wednesday night in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, winning 77-65 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Here is a collection of some of the best photos from the game. CLICK HERE