Butler vs. Purdue Odds
| Butler Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+15.5 -115 | 132.5 -110o / -110u | +920 |
| Purdue Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-15.5 -105 | 132.5 -110o / -110u | -1800 |
After earning the No. 1 ranking for the first time in program history, Purdue was stunned at the buzzer at Rutgers on a halfcourt shot by Ron Harper Jr.
The Boilermakers bounced back with a 82-72 overtime victory over NC State at the Barclays Center. The Boilermakers fell to No. 3 in the AP Poll, but are still sitting at 9-1.
Next on the docket is the Butler Bulldogs in the Crossroads Classic.
Butler has been a streaky team this this season. It started 3-0, lost three in a row and is now riding a four-game winning streak. Last week, the Bulldogs pulled off an overtime road win over Oklahoma.
The Bulldogs will close out its non-conference schedule against a tough Purdue team in what will be the final installment of the Crossroads Classic.
Butler is 4-1 against Purdue in the Crossroads Classic and 3-0 against top-10 teams in the event.
How will the Bulldogs fare this time around?
Butler Bulldogs
Butler has been winning on the defensive end this season. The Bulldogs are 19th in scoring defense, allowing 58.3 points per game.
The Bulldogs have held seven of their 10 opponents under 60 points this season. Butler is 71st in defensive rating — holding opponents to 0.9 points per possession — and 62nd in adjusted defensive efficiency.
The Bulldogs are holding opponents to 28.4% from the 3-point line. Butler wants to play at a snail's pace and is 344th in adjusted tempo.
The Bulldogs have a trio of guards averaging in double digits in sophomore Chuck Harris (11.6 PPG), senior Jair Bolden (11.4 PPG) and freshman Jayden Taylor (10.2 PPG). However, they can be inefficient, as Taylor and Harris both have eFG% under 45%.
In general, Butler is not a prolific offensive team. The Bulldogs are 307th in scoring offense at 64.9 points per game and rank 223rd in offensive rating. The Bulldogs can shoot fairly well from deep at 36.6% as a team. Bolden is a 41.6% 3-point shooter on 6.2 attempts per game.
In their win over Eastern Illinois, the Bulldogs received a couple of key performances from forward Bryce Golden and guard Aaron Thompson. Golden scored 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field, while Thompson scored 14 points and dished out 10 assists. Forward Ty Groce had eight points and seven rebounds.
Butler out-rebounds its opponents by 3.6, however, it is still just 287th in boards per game. That does not bode well against a Purdue squad with a loaded frontline.
Purdue Boilermakers
The Boilermakers are third in the nation in scoring at 87.4 points per game and first in offensive rating. Purdue is one of four teams nationally shooting 50% from the field, 40% from 3 and 70% from the foul line.
However, the Boilermakers have not shot the 3-ball well in the last two games (just 12-of-47). The Boilermakers scored just 68 points against Rutgers and had 66 at the end of regulation against NC State.
Purdue hammered the Wolfpack on the inside with 50 points in the paint, its most since 2016. The effort was led by forward Trevion Williams, who had 22 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists, four blocks and two steals. Williams is the only player in the last 15 seasons to post such a stat line in one game.
For his efforts, he earned Big Ten Player of the Week for the fourth time in his career.
Williams is averaging 14.2 points, 9.3 rebounds and three assists per game. He forms a potent frontcourt tandem with Zach Edey, who is averaging 14.6 points and seven rebounds per game.
Freshman forward Caleb Furst is averaging 6.6 points and six rebounds per game on 45.5% shooting from 3. He spaces the floor for Williams and Edey and gives them room to operate down low.
Thanks to its massive frontline, Purdue is out-rebounding its opponents by 14.3 per game.
Guard Jaden Ivey is the star on the perimeter and he is coming off of a 22-point, seven-rebound performance against NC State. He is averaging 16.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.
Guard Sasha Stefanovic is averaging 11.9 points on 42.9% shooting from deep. He is also averaging a career-high four assists per game.
Butler vs. Purdue Betting Pick
Purdue is due to break out of its slump from the beyond the arc. However, Butler has the defense to make things difficult for the Boilers.
Butler is holding its opponents to 28.4% shooting from beyond the arc. Butler will also look to slow down the game and limit possessions.
Conversely, Butler struggles to score on the offensive end and will be facing a tough Purdue defense. As a result, I like the under.
Nine of Butler's 10 games have gone under 132.5 points. Three of Purdue's last five games went under, and I expect that trend to continue.
Pick: Under 132.5
