The Nebraska Cornhuskers take on the Purdue Boilermakers in West Lafayette, IN. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network.
Purdue is favored by 8.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -375. The total is set at 140 points.
Here are my Nebraska vs. Purdue predictions and college basketball picks for January 12, 2025.
Nebraska vs Purdue Prediction
My Pick: Purdue -7.5 (Play to -8.5)
My Nebraska vs Purdue best bet is on the Boilermakers spread, with the best odds currently available at FanDuel. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Nebraska vs Purdue Odds
| Nebraska Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+8.5 -110 | 140 -112 / -108 | +295 |
| Purdue Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-8.5 -110 | 140 -112 / -108 | -375 |
- Nebraska vs Purdue spread: Purdue -8.5
- Nebraska vs Purdue over/under: 140 points
- Nebraska vs Purdue moneyline: Purdue -375, Nebraska +295
- Nebraska vs Purdue best bet: Purdue -7.5 (Play to -8.5)
Spread
I'm taking the Boilers on the spread.
Moneyline
I have no play on the moneyline.
Over/Under
I have no play on the total.
My Pick: Purdue -7.5 (Play to -8.5)
Nebraska vs Purdue College Basketball Betting Preview
Sundays have become a showcase for the Big Ten, and noon ET features a great bout between two tournament-caliber squads.
Purdue’s name hasn’t been on the lips of many media folks this season, but the Boilers are quietly playing great basketball (as they usually do). Matt Painter’s team sits 4-1 in the Big Ten and has yet another quality NCAA Tournament resume to go with a strong No. 16 KenPom ranking.
Nebraska enters this game after a tough overtime loss at Iowa, but this team is for real and no longer a pushover like in the days of yore. Nevertheless, the Huskers do sit 0-2 in road tilts in conference play.
Mackey Arena is one of the best venues in college basketball, and Purdue hasn’t lost here since February 25, 2023.
The Boilers play through the post on offense, as they always do under Painter, ranking in the 91st percentile in post-up rate and 90th percentile in post-up points per possession, per Synergy.
Nebraska hasn’t faced many post-centric teams this season, so Sunday's game will be a massive test. The Huskers have size up front and are generally excellent at keeping foes away from the rim, but Purdue is a different type of opponent.
Nebraska makes teams beat it from deep, ranking just 358th nationally in 3-point attempt rate allowed. Purdue will get plenty of outside looks, and the Mackey vibes should help those shots fall.
It will be a pick-your-poison type of game for the Huskers: allow Purdue’s cadre of capable shooters to get looks from deep and hope they don’t hit, or sell out on the perimeter and risk going one-on-one against a very good post offense on the block.
Purdue won’t get second chances, so Nebraska’s best path might be using its length to contest — but not overplay — the 3 while staying home and making sure Trey Kaufman-Renn and Co. don’t get high-percentage looks in the paint.
Braden Smith and Foster Loyer will look to continue their hot shooting from distance — both guards are over 42% from deep on the year.
Nebraska has edges in toughness, physicality and athleticism against Purdue. Brice Williams and Juwan Gary should pose major matchup issues for a Purdue team lacking the hybrid-forward archetype that can defend multiple spots. Camden Heide and Myles Colvin are the closest thing Painter has.
There are dribble handoffs abound in Fred Hoiberg’s half-court-based offense, which can stagnate at times, but the Huskers largely take good shots.
Purdue’s weakness has been in ball screens this year, but that’s not really Nebraska’s M.O. on this end. The Huskers' inability to take advantage of that weakness is a point in Purdue’s favor.
The Huskers also need to get to the foul line to supplement their scoring effort, and Purdue is elite at staying sound positionally on defense and guarding without fouling.
The path to points for Nebraska might come down to Gary and Williams making plays against overmatched defenders.
Purdue has an easier route to points on Sunday and the benefit of playing in front of one of the best crowds in America. This could be an ugly, mucky game, but expect the Boilermakers to emerge victorious and extend late as they vie for the cover.
