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The Purdue Boilermakers are set to face the Michigan Wolverines. Check out our college basketball odds series, which includes our Purdue Michigan prediction, odds, and pick.
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Purdue is now the Big Ten favorite, and college basketball odds experts would not disagree. The Boilermakers now have a sweep of Illinois on their resume after beating the Fighting Illini on Tuesday, the second time in a few weeks Purdue has handled Brad Underwood's group.
When thinking about a Purdue Michigan prediction, realize that Boilermaker coach Matt Painter has done a good job of making the offense run through Jaden Ivey. Purdue churns out quality big men at a level most programs can't match, but while Zach Edey and Trevion Williams are superb in the paint, Purdue's difference-maker is Edey, a gifted natural scorer in the backcourt. When Edey initiates the offense, Purdue generally thrives. He had answers for everything Illinois presented to him, and when he's on, the Boilermakers look like a Final Four team. Purdue went through some struggles earlier in the season when it lost to Rutgers and then Wisconsin, but the Boilermakers have been a lot more solid in the past several weeks.
When considering a Purdue Michigan pick, you will look at Michigan and see a team which is struggling to merely stay above .500. That's a massive disappointment for a team which had preseason Final Four buzz, alongside Purdue. Michigan simply hasn't been able to get the backcourt and wing production to help big man Hunter Dickinson, a legitimately great player who has had to carry far too much of the workload this season. Dickinson played extremely well this past Saturday against Purdue, but it was a case of Michigan having one elite player and Purdue having a complete team. Will this dynamic change for college basketball odds evaluators on Thursday in Ann Arbor, as Michigan hosts a rematch just five days after the first meeting in East Lafayette.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Purdue-Michigan odds:
College Basketball odds: Purdue-Michigan Odds
Purdue: -3.5 (-110)
Michigan: +3.5 (-110)
Over: 145 (-110)
Under: 145 (-110)
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Why Purdue Could Cover the Spread
Purdue is a much better team. It is playing much better than Michigan. The Boilermakers are on a roll. They are playing with confidence. Michigan has Hunter Dickinson and not much else. There just isn't a lot which needs to be said here.
Why Michigan Could Cover the Spread
The Wolverines surely noticed the underdogs strike back on Wednesday in college basketball. SMU upset Houston after trailing by 15. Oklahoma stopped a long slide by knocking off Texas Tech. Pittsburgh was a huge underdog yet won on the road at Florida State. Teams get desperate in February, in search of must-have wins, and the fight back. Michigan is in this position against Purdue, absolutely needing a win in order to have any chance of maximizing its season. Also, Purdue's game against Illinois was on Tuesday. This is a very, very quick turnaround for the Boilermakers, who could easily be emotionally drained.
Final Purdue-Michigan Prediction & Pick
That last detail, mentioned above, about Purdue being emotionally spent after the Illinois game — and having a very short turnaround for this game — gives Michigan a natural opening. Purdue might actually still win outright, but Michigan getting 3.5 points looks like a chance to go with the Wolverines against the spread and Purdue on the moneyline.
Final Purdue-Michigan Pick: Michigan +3.5
