NCAA Basketball Free Pick – Tuesday, February 8, 2011
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Indiana (12-12, 3-8 Big Ten) at #12 Purdue (18-5, 7-3 Big Ten)
Date/Time: Tuesday, February 8, 2011, 7:00PM EST
Venue: Mackey Arena, West Lafayette, IN
Broadcast: ESPN
Money Line: OFF
Spread: Purdue -14
Over/Under: 137 ½
The battle for the Hoosier State rages on at the Mackey Arena as the No. 12 Purdue Boilermakers put their 12-0 home record this season on the line against their in-state conference rivals Indiana.
Returning home might just be what the Boilermakers need to rebound from their latest Big Ten defeat as they play an Indiana team that tying to avoid its 14th straight road loss on Tuesday night.
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Indiana, who upset then-No. 20 Illinois and then-No. 18 Minnesota at home fell in overtime at previously ranked Michigan State before failing to secure a 10-point lead in Saturday’s 64-63 home loss to Iowa.
Indiana guard Jordan Hulls matched a career high with 24 points Saturday. The sophomore, who is averaging 16.8 points on 49.0 percent shooting over the last four contests, combined for 14 points in two games versus Purdue last season.
The Hoosiers have also stepped up on the defensive end during that four-game span, holding opponents to 63.5 points on 39.5 percent shooting.
That could pose a problem for the Boilermakers who despite shooting 47.9 percent fell 66-59 at No. 13 Wisconsin last Tuesday. JaJuan Johnson scored 23 points and E’Twaun Moore added 15 against the Badgers. The star inside-outside duo averages a combined 38.2 points, with the 6-foot-10 Johnson averaging 24.1 over his last seven games.
Johnson and Moore score more than half of Purdue’s points (38.2 of 73.7). If you can limit one of them without allowing the other to go off you have a decent chance to win Conversely, Indiana’s 0-7 on the road this season with several players missing games, including leading scorer Christian Watford who hasn’t played in the last two.
The Boilermakers are 110-84 in the all-time series against their cross state rival.
Purdue is an overwhelming favorite here and hold an advantage in blocked shots, fouls committed and assists. The Boilermakers find themselves in a good position defensively, being able to spread the ball around while not giving up easy points from the charity stripe.
The odds makers have the Purdue Boilermakers as a -14 point favorite with an over/under of 137.5.
Matt’s Free Pick: Last season, the Boilermakers went 2-0 against the Hoosiers, winning by an average margin of 11. Over the last four seasons, Purdue is 4-2 against Indiana, including 3-0 at home. Just about the only thing that could possibly detract Purdue from winning is complacency. If the Boilermakers are able to protect its home court once again, I see no reason for this year’s game to be any different.
Check out the latest College Basketball Odds here.
Indiana Hoosiers Betting Trends:
- Indiana is 6-15 ATS in its last 21 games on the road
- Indiana is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
- The total has gone OVER in 6 of Indiana’s last 7 games on the road
- Indiana is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers Betting Trends:
- Purdue is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
- Purdue is 18-5 SU in its last 23 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Purdue’s last 6 games
- Purdue is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
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