The Texas A&M Aggies take on the Purdue Boilermakers in Indianapolis, IN. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. ET on CBS.
Purdue is favored by 3 points on the spread with a moneyline of -135. The total is set at 143 points.
Here are my Texas A&M vs. Purdue predictions and college basketball picks for December 14, 2024.
Texas A&M vs Purdue Prediction
My Pick: Texas A&M +2.5 (Play to ML at -110 or Better)
My Texas A&M vs Purdue best bet is on the Aggies 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.
Texas A&M vs Purdue Odds
| Texas A&M Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2.5 -110 | 143 -112 / -108 | +114 |
| Purdue Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2.5 -110 | 143 -112 / -108 | -135 |
- Texas A&M vs Purdue spread: Purdue -2.5
- Texas A&M vs Purdue over/under: 143 points
- Texas A&M vs Purdue moneyline: Purdue -135, Texas A&M +114
- Texas A&M vs Purdue best bet: Texas A&M +2.5 (Play to ML at -110 or Better)
Spread
I'm targeting the Aggies on the spread.
Moneyline
I would take the Aggies on the moneyline at -110 or better.
Over/Under
I'm avoiding the total.
My Pick: Texas A&M +3.5 (Play to ML at -110 or Better)
Texas A&M vs Purdue College Basketball Betting Preview
Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis will play host to an entertaining game between Texas A&M and Purdue on Saturday.
The exciting end of the floor to watch will be Purdue's elite offense against the Texas A&M defense. Both units rank inside the top 10 in adjusted efficiency on that end of the floor, and it will truly be strength-on-strength.
A&M is a physical team with length and athleticism at all positions. The Aggies force turnovers on 21% of their opponents' offensive possessions, which ranks 69th nationally.
Turnovers have been a problem from time to time for Purdue, which still relies heavily on Braden Smith to create everything for his arsenal of catch-and-shoot threats. Smith is sensational, but as Penn State demonstrated a week ago in a blowout win over Purdue, if you can frustrate the Boilermakers' star, they don't have many backup options.
Across from Smith will be Texas A&M star Wade Taylor IV, who has taken a step forward in nearly every area of the game from last season. Taylor has upped his 3-point percentage, his 2-point percentage, his free throw percentage and his assist rate, all while turning the ball over less than he did a season ago.
Taylor has scored in double figures in every game this season for the Aggies, and he has six straight games with four or more assists.
While the point guard matchup will bring the fireworks, it may be more likely that this game is decided by each team's supporting cast.
Texas A&M is a deep team, ranking 58th nationally in bench minutes. Meanwhile, Purdue has trimmed its rotation sizably in the last few games.
Texas A&M is relentless on the offensive glass. The Aggies finished last season ranked first in the country in generating second chances on the boards, and they remain first in the country this season, as well.
Purdue is vulnerable in the paint for the first time in practically a decade. The Boilermakers start Trey Kaufman-Renn at center, a 6-foot-9 power forward who has been sensational offensively but is susceptible to giving up offensive rebounds and is not a rim protector at all (only one block this season).
The Aggies will send an endless platoon of athletes to crash their shot attempts, and Purdue's small-ball look may be having nightmares before this one is over.
Back the Aggies to cover and win the game. (Any plus-money price is great value, and I would bet it up to -110.)
