Purdue vs. Indiana Odds
| Purdue Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3.5 -110 | 141.5 -110o / -110u | -164 |
| Indiana Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3.5 -110 | 141.5 -110o / -110u | +136 |
Anytime the two Big Ten universities located in the state of Indiana square off in hoops, it's a big deal. This year's first matchup feels just a little bit bigger.
Purdue has legitimate Final Four aspirations in 2022, and this very well may be the best team Matt Painter has had in his tenure in West Lafayette. The Boilers don't really have a weakness and Painter can comfortably go nine to 10 deep in his rotation.
For Indiana, the Mike Woodson era has gotten off to a pretty solid start thus far. The Hoosiers have let a couple of games slip away on the road, but they are winning the matchups they are supposed to win.
What makes Thursday night's contest even more intriguing is the fact that the Boilermakers are going for their 10th consecutive win in this rivalry.
You read that correctly, Indiana has not beaten Purdue since February of 2016.
Can Purdue pile on another win at Assembly Hall, or will Indiana rise up and end the skid against its in-state rival? Let's get into it.
Purdue Boilermakers
The Boilers enter this game coming off of a massive road victory in Champaign over the Illini. Purdue sits at 15-2 on the year, with the only losses coming at the buzzer at Rutgers and at home to Wisconsin.
Much of the Boilers' success can be credited to sophomore guard Jaden Ivey. Ivey will be a top-10 pick in next year's draft, and is making an impact on both ends of the floor. He has improved in pretty much every statistical category from his freshman year, most notably, his 3-point shooting percentage.
On the inside, the two-headed monster of Zach Edey and Trevion Williams has been absolutely dominant. Painter rarely plays these two together, which helps both to be very fresh when on the floor.
Williams has been the closer in end-of-game situations, and he seems to always deliver when he catches it on the block in crunch time.
Lastly, and what will be key in Thursday night's matchup, are the shooters that Purdue has to spread the floor. Sasha Stefanovic has really hurt Indiana in prior meetings, so the Hoosiers will need to make sure they have eyes on the senior at all times.
Indiana Hoosiers
As good as the start to the year has been for Indiana, the Hoosiers have yet to deliver that statement win. Indiana led by double digits in the second half in Madison, but couldn't quite finish the deal against the Badgers.
Thursday night presents another opportunity for a big splash that could really catapult the Hoosiers as the year goes on.
The key reason to Indiana's success this season has been its defense. Indiana enters this game ranking 12th in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency, per KenPom.
Moreover, the Hoosiers check in at third in Effective FG%, and are holding opponents to under 30% shooting from 3-point range.
On the other side of the ball, All-American candidate Trayce Jackson-Davis has been Mr. Reliable for the Indiana offense. The junior forward is really hard to cover 1-on-1 on the block, and he is relentless on the offensive glass.
Indiana will need Parker Stewart and Miller Kopp to step up and knock down some shots to be able to hang around with the potent Purdue offense.
Purdue vs. Indiana Betting Pick
This game is going to be appointment television on Thursday evening.
The interior matchups of Williams and Edey squaring off against Jackson-Davis and Race Thompson will be fascinating to watch. Both teams will need their bigs to stay out of foul trouble in what is bound to be a very physical game.
Most teams that play Purdue this year are going to be at a significant disadvantage on the interior. I don't think that's the case with the Hoosiers.
Jackson-Davis came back to Bloomington to play in matchups like this, and I believe he is bound for a big night at home.
Lastly, as someone who attended 20-plus games in my four years in Bloomington, I am very aware of how loud Assembly Hall can get. I expect the building to be on another level on Thursday night.
Given Indiana has the front line to hold its own against Purdue, home-court advantage and some capable shooters from the outside, I think the value lies with the Hoosiers as a short home underdog in this game.
I'm going to play it safe and take the 3.5, but I certainly don't hate a play on the money line either.
I'm looking forward to sitting back and watching the 40 minute dogfight that this one will be. Give me the Hoosiers and the points.
