Austin Peay vs Purdue Odds
| Austin Peay Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+25 -110 | 139.5 -110o / -110u | +2500 |
| Purdue Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-25 -110 | 139.5 -115o / -105u | -10000 |
The 2022-23 season did not get off to a great start for Austin Peay when it lost to NC State 99-50 in the season opener. Austin Peay will hit the road to battle another high major opponent when it faces the Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena.
Purdue had a comfortable win in its season opener against UW-Milwaukee. The Boilermakers took a 19-point lead into the halftime break and were able to cruise for a 84-53 victory. Purdue is 17-1 in season openers under Matt Painter and has now won 10 in a row.
It was also the 15th consecutive non-conference home win for the Boilermakers. Purdue will look to continue the streak against Austin Peay.
Austin Peay Governors
Head coach Nate James is in his second year with the program after his team went 12-17 last season. He returns eight players from last year's team. However, expectations outside the program are not very high, as Austin Peay was picked to finish ninth in the Atlantic Sun, its first season in the conference.
Any improvements will be led by sophomore center Elijah Hutchins-Everett. He averaged 12 points, 6.8 rebounds, and shot over 51% from the field last season.
Sophomore forward Sean Durugordon transferred in from Missouri, though he had a quiet debut. He scored four points in 21 minutes on 2-for-7 shooting from the field against NC State.
Last season, offense was a problem for the Governors, as the team ranked 324th in scoring (64.7 PPG) and 308th in offensive efficiency. The team was also 324th in field goal percentage (40.8%) and 282nd in three-point field goal percentage, shooting just 31.5% from deep. Austin Peay scored just 50 points and shot 1-for-8 from beyond the arc against NC State.
Hutchins-Everett is 6-foot-11, and the team has some big wings in Durugordon and Cameron Copeland, who are both 6-foot-7. The team has more size than you would expect to match up with Purdue. However, rebounding could still be an issue. The Governors were outrebounded 38-25 against NC State.
Purdue Boilermakers
The Boilermakers started two freshmen in the season opener for the first time since 2007-08 and the famed class of Robbie Hummel, E'Twaun Moore, and JaJuan Johnson. Guard Braden Smith had seven points, four rebounds, four assists, and seven steals in his debut.
Fellow freshman guard Fletcher Loyer scored 17 points and was 5-for-12 from beyond the arc. He is the younger brother of Davidson guard (and former Big Ten player) Foster Loyer.
However, center Zach Edey will lead the way for the Boilmakers this year. The 7-foot-4 junior averaged 14.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 19 minutes per game last season.
More will be asked of him this season as the team replaces a lottery pick in Jaden Ivey and productive four-year players in Trevion Williams and Sasha Stefanovic.
In the season opener, Edey scored 12 points, pulled down 17 rebounds and had six blocks. He tied a school record with 10 offensive rebounds. The Boilermakers shot 38.5% from behind the arc last season, which was fifth-best in the country.
There is still plenty of shooting to surround Edey, particularly with the addition of Loyer. Purdue surrounds Edey with three guards and forward Mason Gillis, with all players ranging from 6-foot-4 to 6-foot-6.
Junior guard Brandon Newman is reprising his role as the sixth man this season and he scored 16 points on 3-for-8 shooting from three in the opener. Purdue's most heralded freshman is forward Trey Kaufman-Renn, who was a consensus a top-50 recruit. He scored eight points and seven rebounds in his debut.
It would not be a surprise if he entered the starting lineup later on this season.
Austin Peay vs. Purdue Betting Pick
There is a saying that good teams find a way when they do not play their best. In that regard, Purdue should be encouraged from its season opener. Purdue shot 31% in the first half against UW-Milwaukee, but it was still able to build a 19 point lead. It shot 37.5% for the game and still won by 31 points.
I expect a better shooting performance from the Boilermakers against Austin Peay, particularly from inside the arc. Despite filling up the stat sheet, Zach Edey shot just 4-for-13 from the field.
He should fare better against an Austin Peay team that ranked 328th in two-percentage defense last season and struggled against NC State. Edey will also make life difficult for Hutchins-Everett, and if he cannot get going, the Governors will struggle offensively.
I expect Purdue to win comfortably at home, and I am backing the Boilermakers to cover the spread at Purdue -21 or better.
