The Liberty Flames and Purdue Boilermakers tip off their season at the Space Coast Challenge Wednesday in Melbourne, Fla., at 6 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Liberty-Purdue college basketball betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Liberty vs. Purdue: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:15 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Liberty +375 (bet $100 to win $375) | Purdue -500 (bet $500 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Liberty +9.5 (-106) | Purdue -9.5 (-115)
- Over/Under: 123.5 (O: -115 | U: -106)
Liberty vs. Purdue: Three things to know
- The Flames won their 30th game of the season on March 8, cutting down the nets at the Atlantic Sun Tournament with a 73-57 spanking of Lipscomb. Unfortunately for Liberty, that second consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament never came, as the season was wiped out a few days later.
- Purdue stumbled through a 16-15 regular season with a sub-.500 mark in conference play at 9-11. The Boilermakers were 12-7 on their home floor, but 4-8 elsewhere. Purdue was also 13-16-2 ATS while the Over edged the Under 16-15. G Eric Hunter Jr., one of three returning starters, will not be with the team due to a broken leg suffered during a preseason scrimmage.
- Liberty has three starters back from that 30-win season, including G Elijah Cuffee and G Darius McGhee. Cuffee is the preseason Defensive Player of the Year in the Atlantic Sun, while McGhee was named to the A-Sun first team.
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Liberty vs. Purdue: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Liberty 64, Purdue 62
Money line (ML)
LIBERTY (+375) is primed for the upset here. The Flames won 27 games during the regular season, and three more in their conference tournament, and they have three experienced starters back from that group. Purdue (-500) will have just two starters back from a mediocre team last season, as Hunter is out at least another month.
The Flames are a great value play, especially since this game is on a neutral-site floor.
Against the spread (ATS)
LIBERTY +9.5 (-106) is a bargain play at nearly double digits, as it won’t be fazed by playing one of the big boys. The Flames were primed and ready to perhaps slay a giant in the Big Dance before the season was wiped out in mid-March. The Flames have a sour taste in their mouths, but an opening-night upset of Purdue will make head coach Ritchie McKay’s group feel a little better.
Over/Under (O/U)
OVER 123.5 (-115) is a little on the low side, but not by much. We should see late free throws push this total over the finish line, perhaps even in the final minute. If you play the total, go very lightly, as it’s going to be close.
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