Purdue vs Northwestern College Basketball Predictions & Preview Game

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Northwestern has made the NCAA Tournament just once in its history and the Wildcats aren’t doing so this year most likely. They can play Big Ten spoilers, though, on Wednesday against No. 5 Purdue, which is a solid favorite on the NCAAB odds.

How to Bet Purdue at Northwestern NCAA Basketball Odds & TV Info

When: Wednesday, 9 PM ET
Where: Welsh-Ryan Arena
TV: Big Ten Network
Stream: BTN+
Radio: Tunein.com
Opening NCAAB Lines: Purdue -5.5 (total 146.5)

Last Meeting

They schools met Jan. 23 at Purdue and the Boilermakers rolled 80-60. Sasha Stefanovic scored 22 points to lead the way. Purdue has won 10 straight in the series, turning away Northwestern once again despite playing without leading scorer Jaden Ivey because of an injured hip flexor. Trevion Williams and Zach Edey had 12 points apiece. The Wildcats were led by Boo Buie with 17 points. Pete Nance and Robbie Beran each scored nine for Northwestern, which cut a double-digit deficit to five when it opened the second half with seven straight points, but Purdue eventually went on a 16-5 run to open a 64-47 lead with 8:03 to play.

Purdue holds a 130-48 all-time record in the series.

Why Bet on Purdue?

Purdue (22-4) probably should have lost Sunday at home to Maryland but escaped 62-61. Trevion Williams rejected a layup try by Donta Scott in the final seconds. Scott drove hard to the basket from the right baseline, but Williams blocked the shot with five seconds left. The Boilermakers corralled the loose ball, completing a rally from a 12-point deficit midway through the second half.

“I thought we deserved to win, in the clip I saw from one of our guys on the staff, I thought Donta got fouled,” Maryland interim coach Danny Manning said.

The win was Purdue’s first one-point victory since a 55-54 win at Michigan State on Jan. 8, 2021. It was the fewest points in a Purdue win since that contest. Purdue has won three games this year when trailing by 10 or more points in the final 12 minutes (Villanova, North Carolina State, Maryland). Purdue has trailed by 10 or more points in the second half five times this season and won three of them.

Purdue’s 62 points mark a season-low point total in a win this season. The Boilermakers are now 1-4 when scoring less than 70 points this season. Purdue is 21-1 when shooting a higher field goal percentage than its opponent. Purdue has won 15 straight games when wearing its gold uniforms (last loss: Jan. 1, 2017).

Four Purdue players registered double-digit scoring performances, led by Sasha Stefanovic, who tallied 17 points, shooting 5-of- 9 from long range. Zach Edey notched his eighth career double-double, recording 10 points and 11 rebounds, 5 of which were offensive.

A win would give Purdue a 23-4 record, matching Purdue’s best 27-game start since the 1987-88 season (done five other times). Wednesday’s game marks an end of a stretch where Purdue will have played eight games in 21 days. Purdue will have traveled or been on the road for 10 of the last 21 days. The Boilermakers are 6-1 in that stretch with three quad-1 victories (Iowa, Ohio State, Illinois).

Purdue leads the Big Ten in field goal percentage (by 25 points), 3-point percentage (19 points), 3-pointers, rebound margin and assists.

Why Bet on Northwestern?

Northwestern (12-11) lost at No. 13 Illinois 73-66 to end a three-game winning streak. Illinois won its eighth straight over Northwestern. This is the Illini’s longest winning streak against the Wildcats since taking 11 in a row from 2/28/2004-12/30/2009.

NU was stout defensively, finishing with 12 steals. Its highest mark in a Big Ten conference game since March 8, 2012 (12 steals vs. Minnesota). In total, the Wildcat defense forced 20 Illini turnovers. The Wildcat defense stepped up especially in the second half, limiting the Illini to 8-of-24 shooting from the field (1-of-13 from three), while forcing 14 turnovers. A 19-2 run midway through the second half over a five-minute stretch cut an 18-point deficit to one.

Ty Berry led the way for the Wildcats with 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting, connecting on his first four threes. Berry’s 16 points are the second most points he has scored against a Big Ten opponent in his career. Chase Audige finished with 12 points, a team-high seven rebounds, a team-leading three assists, and two steals.

Northwestern ranks fifth in the Big Ten averaging 8.2 made threes per game. When the Cats convert on eight or more 3-point attempts, they are 9-5 this season. Boo Buie’s made a team-best 51 treys this season with Nance leading the squad hitting 41.4% of his long range attempts. NU is second nationally in assist turnover ratio (1.85).

The Wildcats last defeated an AP top-five team a season ago with a 79-75 victory over No. 4 Michigan State on Dec. 20, 2020.