It’s a big game in the Big 10 when No. 16 Wisconsin challenges No. 7 Purdue Saturday afternoon in West Lafayette.
These two teams are battling for two of the top four spots in the Big 10 standings, which earns one a double-bye for the upcoming conference tournament.
This game might also play a part in some future NCAA tournament seeding.
Who do we like for our free college basketball betting pick?
NCAAB Betting Odds
The CBB betting market opened Purdue at -5.5 for Saturday, with an over/under of right around 147. Both numbers were holding steady in early betting action.
Wisconsin-Purdue Betting Preview
The Badgers ride a three-game winning streak into Saturday after beating Iowa in Iowa City last Saturday 74-63. Wisconsin trailed that game 39-37 at the half and 59-58 with seven minutes left. But the Badgers finished with a 16-4 run to grab the victory and cover at -5.5.
Wisconsin only shot 39 percent from the floor last Saturday but held the Hawkeyes to just 38 percent shooting.
Two games ago the Badgers grabbed a huge early lead on Indiana, won 76-64 and covered at -9. Three games ago Bucky popped for 50 second-half points, beat Northwestern 75-69 and covered at -4.5.
At 9-4 in conference play Wisconsin sits in fourth place in the Big 10, two games behind first-place Michigan. And at 19-5 overall the Badgers are shooting for a top-four seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament.
Wisconsin-Purdue Betting Preview
Meanwhile the Boilermakers just had a four-game winning streak snapped by a 75-73 loss at No. 20 Michigan Tuesday night. Purdue led that game almost all night, including by eight with nine minutes left. But the Boilermakers got outscored 30-20 down the stretch and missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have won the game.
Purdue committed 23 fouls Tuesday night, which led to a 12-point deficit from the free-throw line.
About a month ago the Boilers collapsed in the last few minutes and lost 73-70 at home to Ohio State. Then Purdue won four in a row, including a total blow-out of those first-place Wolverines.
In fact, going back a bit further the Boilermakers are 11-2 SU, 10-3 ATS over their last 13 games.
At 11-3 in Big 10 play Purdue sits just a half-game out of first place. And at 19-6 overall the Boilers are also in the running for good seeding at the upcoming Big Dance.
Wisconsin-Purdue Recent History
The Boilers are 3-1 SU over the last four meetings in this series but the Badgers are 5-1 ATS over the last six. And Wisconsin won the most recent meeting back in March of last season, a 76-75 overtime decision in the semifinals of the Big 10 Conference tournament.
By the Numbers
Wisconsin is shooting 46 percent from the floor this season, 37 percent from 3-point range and 84 percent from the FT line, which leads the Nation. The Badgers are also holding opponents to 41 percent shooting and out-rebounding foes by a 33-31 per game average. This while playing what ESPN ranks as the 24th-toughest schedule in the country.
Purdue is shooting 49 percent from the floor, 37 percent from 3-point land and 72 percent from the line. The Boilers are also allowing opponents to shoot 44 percent from the field and winning the battle on the boards by a 30-29 average. This while playing ESPN’s No. 2 schedule.
Totals Report
The Overs is 14-10 in Badgers games this season, which are averaging 151 total points.
The Overs is 14-10 in Boilers games, which are averaging 147 points.
The Overs is 8-2 over the last 10 meetings between these teams.
