The top team in the country hits the floor Thursday night when the Michigan Wolverines (11-8, 5-3 Big 10) host the #1 Purdue Boilermakers (19-1, 8-1 Big 10) in Big Ten Conference action. The conference clash is the first and only meeting of the season between the two schools. Purdue leads the all-time series by a 90-75 margin but Michigan has captured 14 of the last 21 contests.
The conference showdown tips off at 9 p.m. EST inside the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Purdue is a five-point favorite, and the over/under total is 136.0 points.
What to Know – #1 Purdue Boilermakers
The top team in the country plays their fifth road game in seven contests aiming to keep a two-game cushion in the Big Ten standings. Purdue has won six in a row and have yet to lose on the road this season.
The Boilermakers are sixth in the conference averaging 73.6 points per game and shooting 45.3% from the floor and 32.6% from the 3-point line. Purdue’s defense ranks second in the Big Ten limiting opponents to 59.8 ppg, 39.7% shooting from the field, and 29.1% from beyond the arc.
Zach Edey leads the conference in scoring, averaging 21.5 ppg thanks to connecting on 61.4% of his field goal attempts. If Edey isn’t scoring the ball is most likely in Fletcher Loyer’s hands who adds 12.8 ppg.
Purdue is 8-12 against the spread this season and 2-3 ATS in true road games. The Boilermakers are 0-10 ATS over their previous ten matchups against the Wolverines.
What to Know – Michigan Wolverines
Michigan has lost three of its last five games, all three conference matchups on the road. The Wolverines have played much better in Ann Arbor where they are 8-2 at home this year.
Offensively, the Wolverines are fifth in the conference scoring 74.3 ppg, hitting 44.7% of their shots from the field and 32.6% from deep. On defense, Michigan surrenders 69.0 ppg, 42.0% shooting from the floor and 31.6% from three.
Michigan is led in scoring by Hunter Dickerson who’s averaging 18.1 ppg. Dickerson is hitting 57.1% of his shots from the floor and 40% from three. Guards Jeff Howard (14.6 ppg) and Kobe Bufkin (12.1 ppg) are additional scoring options for the Wolverine offense.
The Wolverines are 9-10 ATS and an even 5-5 ATS on their home floor. Michigan is 6-0 ATS in its previous games against Purdue at home.
The Pick is In
Two evenly matched teams on paper led by two of the best big men in college basketball in Purdue’s Edey and Michigan’s Dickerson. The matchup between those two will be a storyline throughout the contest.
Michigan plays their best basketball at home, and while Purdue last yet to lose on the road, we like the Wolverines to keep this one close til the very end.
The Pick: Michigan Wolverines +5
