The Purdue Boilermakers take on the Michigan Wolverines in the Big Ten Tournament. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network.
Purdue is favored by 2.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -149. The total is set at 147.5 points.
Here are my Purdue vs. Michigan predictions and college basketball picks for March 14, 2025.
Purdue vs Michigan Prediction
My Pick: Purdue -3 or Better
My Purdue vs Michigan best bet is on the Boilermakers spread, with the best odds currently available at DraftKings. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Purdue vs Michigan Odds
| Purdue Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2.5 -115 | 147.5 -110o / -110u | -162 |
| Michigan Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2.5 -105 | 147.5 -110o / -110u | +136 |
- Purdue vs Michigan spread: Purdue -2.5
- Purdue vs Michigan over/under: 147.5 points
- Purdue vs Michigan moneyline: Purdue -162, Michigan +136
- Purdue vs Michigan best bet: Purdue -3 or Better
Spread
I'm taking Purdue to cover, relying on its shooting and defensive pressure.
Moneyline
I'm comfortable laying a small amount of points here, rather than taking the moneyline.
Over/Under
I have no pick on the total, but I have a lean toward over.
My Pick: Purdue -3 or Better
Purdue vs Michigan College Basketball Betting Preview
Michigan was one of the stories of the season a few weeks ago. New head coach Dusty May had the Wolverines fighting for the Big Ten regular season crown.
Beneath the surface, however, it was clear that Michigan wasn't as strong as its record indicated. In the month of February, the Wolverines played eight games, seven of which were decided by four points or fewer. Michigan won all seven of those games.
In total this season, Michigan has played 14 such games, winning 11 times.
Praise May’s late-game coaching all you want, that's a trend that's bound for some regression.
Michigan’s record took a hit after that miracle stretch, ending the season by dropping its final three games — twice at home and twice via blowout.
The Wolverines’ postseason hopes hinge on the success of their two towers lineup, with 7-footers Danny Wolf and Vladislav Goldin playing side-by-side.
Goldin is a traditional big, scoring on the post and hitting the glass. Wolf moves like a guy half his size, with the court vision and jumper to match. Combined, they make a brutal matchup for many opponents.
That hasn't necessarily included Purdue. The teams split two meetings this season. Purdue ran Michigan off the court in West Lafayette, but the Wolverines stole the rematch in Ann Arbor by just two points.
The most notable thing in either game was Wolf’s performance on the road, where Trey Kaufman-Renn’s size and athleticism led to one of the Yale transfer’s worst games of the season. Wolf posted just four points on seven shot attempts, with four of Michigan’s 22 turnovers.
Michigan’s penchant for turning the ball over is one of two key factors in this matchup. The Wolverines cough up the ball on more than a fifth of their possessions, 336th in the nation. Purdue is second-best in the Big Ten at forcing turnovers, so the Boilers could gain a major advantage there.
The other key factor comes at the rim. Purdue allows the best 2-point shooting percentage in the Big Ten, ranking 341st nationally in that stat.
The Boilers are one of the 10-worst shot blocking teams in the country. Teams shoot over 70% at the rim versus Purdue, 33rd-highest in college hoops, while Michigan is 28th in the sport in field goal percentage at the rim.
The simple question of this game: Can Michigan suppress its turnover tendency to hunt layups and dunks? If so, the Wolverines should put points on the board.
I’m skeptical, given Purdue’s ability to play pressure defense on the perimeter and, even if Michigan is converting tons of bunnies, Purdue is a top-10 3-point shooting team in the nation and could easily just overwhelm Michigan’s 2s with a barrage of 3s.
I’ll take that gamble and bet on the Boilers to win this one.
