Purdue vs Nebraska Odds, Pick
| Purdue Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Point Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-7.5 -110 | 150.5 -110o / -110u | -350 |
| Nebraska Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Point Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+7.5 -110 | 150.5 -110o / -110u | +260 |
The No. 1-ranked Purdue Boilermakers will rev up the plane again and begin their trek to Lincoln, Nebraska, for a matchup against the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Tuesday.
The Huskers enter the contest 12-3, and this is inarguably the most important game of Fred Hoiberg’s tenure as head coach.
Purdue Boilermakers
Nobody can truly stop Zach Edey, as the 7-foot-4 behemoth averages 22.3 points and 10.4 rebounds per contest. Just enjoy watching Edey while you can because we won’t see someone accomplish what he’s about to accomplish (winning consecutive National Player of the Years) for a long time.
Purdue ranks top-10 in both Offensive (2nd) and Defensive Efficiency (8th).
I’m a full-on believer in Purdue cutting down the nets in Phoenix this year for one main reason: The team can actually shoot it from deep (39%).
That wasn’t the case last season, as Purdue shot 32% from 3. That major difference makes Purdue the true best team in college basketball.
Improvements from sophomores Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer play a huge role in the shooting strides. Smith is shooting 47.9% from deep and Loyer is shooting 40.3%. Both have posted nearly 10% better from downtown in their sophomore campaigns.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
I mentioned how vital this game is for Nebraska’s program, which isn’t used to beating top-five teams in college hoops.
And even if by some miracle Nebraska won a game of this magnitude in the past, it didn’t lead to any NCAA tournament success. Nebraska’s last NCAA tournament appearance came in 2014, and 1998 before that. For reference, Edey wasn’t even alive in 1998.
Nebraska holds one victory over a team in KenPom’s top-50 this season — that came against Michigan State in December.
The other comparable matchup came against Creighton, and the Jays won by a whopping 29 points.
The biggest key for Nebraska’s offense is perimeter shooting — a staple of Hoiberg’s coaching philosophy. The Huskers attempt triples on 45% of offensive possessions, connecting on 34% of those shots.
Guards Keisei Tominaga and Brice Williams account for most of Nebraska’s shooting, as both hit over 35% of their shots from deep. Tominaga is the heart and soul of the program. He feeds off the crowd, and this type of game is the perfect spotlight for him. He’ll get his shots off, and if the shots fall, it’s highly favorable for Nebraska.
The biggest concern for Nebraska's offense is point guard play. Hoiberg brought in zero portal guards, instead putting the pressure on sophomore Jamarques Lawrence.
So far, it’s been a mixed bag of results. Lawrence isn’t great, averaging six points, 2.6 assists and 2.3 turnovers in 25 minutes per contest. He’s the clear weak link in Nebraska’s starting lineup.
Additionally, I think Nebraska’s frontcourt is better equipped to handle the sensational Edey than most teams. The trio of Rienk Mast, Josiah Allick and Juwan Gary will all bring the energy, and having three guys capable of playing will allow them to play aggressively on Edey.
Foul trouble is not an issue with this much frontcourt depth.
Purdue vs. Nebraska
Betting Pick & Prediction
While I expect the energy and the atmosphere to clearly impact the game, Purdue is just the better team in every category.
Unless Nebraska shoots the ball at a super high clip from deep, I don’t see this game being particularly close.
Purdue is too well-schooled and too experienced for Nebraska.
Pick: Purdue -7.5 (Play to -8.5)
ESPN Bet is now live! Make sure you're ready for all the action with our exclusive ESPN BET promo code TANBONUS.
