Purdue vs. Northwestern Prediction
Number one Purdue travels to Evanston to play unranked Northwestern at 2:00 PM ET Sunday afternoon on Big Ten Network. Can the Boilermakers cover the 4.5-point spread as road favorites?
Purdue is 23-2 on the year with their best wins coming over Gonzaga and Duke. Their only losses came against Rutgers and Indiana. The Boilermakers are 11-12-2 against the spread this season.
Northwestern is 17-7 this season with their best wins coming over Michigan State and Indiana. Their worst losses came against Rutgers and Iowa. The Wildcats are 14-10 against the spread this year.
Game Matchup and Betting Odds
853 Purdue Boilermakers (-4.5) vs. 854 Northwestern Wildcats (+4.5); O/U 131
2:00 PM ET, Sunday, February 12, 2023
Welsh-Ryan Arena, Evanston, IL
Purdue vs. Northwestern Public Betting Information
Our CBB Public Betting Information page indicates that the public favors the Boilermakers in this contest. Our public betting data illustrates that 87% of public bets are on Purdue -4.5. Do note that these numbers are subject to change and could be different once tipoff rolls around, so be sure to check the link so you’re receiving the most up-to-date public betting data.
Purdue Game Notes
Purdue center Zach Edey is the odds-on favorite to win the Wooden Award this season as college basketball’s best player. Edey is posting a tremendous stat line of 22.1 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting 62.6% from the field this year.
One of Purdue’s better guards is 6-foot freshman Braden Smith. Smith leads the Boilers in assists with 4.4 per game and he’s also chipping in 9.9 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
Northwestern Game Notes
Northwestern’s leading scorer and assist man is senior guard Boo Buie. Buie is averaging 16.2 points and 4.5 assists per contest for the Wildcats this season. Buie’s backcourt mate Chase Audige is Northwestern’s second-leading scorer this year. Audige is posting 15.1 points per game while shooting 34% on three-pointers. Audige is one of Northwestern’s better defenders, leading the Wildcats with 2.5 steals per game.
Purdue vs. Northwestern CBB Betting Trends
Purdue is 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 Sunday games.
Purdue is 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Northwestern is 19-40-3 ATS in their last 62 games following an ATS win.
Northwestern is 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 home games against a team with a road winning percentage over .600.
Purdue vs. Northwestern CBB Prediction:
Purdue has the best straight-up road record among Big Ten teams this season at 6-1. This is likely because their style of basketball travels well. The Boilermakers only allow 61.6 points per game, a mark that ranks 14th in the country. What’s more, Purdue has the best rebounding rate in the nation at 59%. Northwestern ranks 196th in Division I with a rebounding rate of 49.8%. Further complicating matters for the Wildcats is their subpar three-point defense. Northwestern allows opponents to shoot 34.5% from beyond the arc, a mark that ranks 212th in the nation. Purdue has four rotation players who make more than 34% of their three-pointers and they have the nation’s best player in center Zach Edey who will likely win the Wooden Award this season. For all of the above reasons, I think the Boilers can score and rebound enough to win this game by two possessions or more.
CBB BETTING PREDICTION: PURDUE BOILERMAKERS -4.5
