The No. 23 Wisconsin Badgers (10-2, 1-1 Big Ten) and No. 3 Purdue Boilermakers (12-1, 1-1) tussle in a Big Ten showdown Monday. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind. Below, we look at the Wisconsin vs. Purdue odds and lines and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
After having a Dec. 23 non-conference home game against George Mason nixed due to COVID-19 protocols, Wisconsin returned to action Wednesday – after a 13-day layoff – with a shaky 89-85 win over Illinois State. UW allowed a season-high 57.5 effective field-goal percentage in the win. ISU went 9-for-22 behind the 3-point line – defending the perimeter has been a consistent problem for the Badgers.
The Boilermakers have won four in a row after dropping a league game at Rutgers Dec. 9. Purdue is coming off a sluggish game – at least a sluggish start to a game – in a Wednesday non-conference affair against the Nicholls Colonels. Purdue trailed 17-11 through six minutes and change before righting the ship and cruising to a 104-90 win. The Boilermakers led by 18-20 points for most of the second half, but they never came close to covering a 29-point spread.
Rankings courtesy of the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
Wisconsin at Purdue odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:32 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Wisconsin +570 (bet $100 to win $570) | Purdue -900 (bet $900 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Wisconsin +12.5 (-107) | Purdue -12.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 139.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
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Wisconsin at Purdue odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Purdue 78, Wisconsin 64
Money line
PASS. Look to the O/U for the top play in this one.
Against the spread
The Badgers are 0-3 against the number in their last three games. The Boilermakers are 1-5 ATS across their last six. The home team is 6-1-1 ATS in the last eight series meetings.
Purdue figures to have a sizable edge on the boards and in shooting the ball from just about anywhere. Look for the home five to be dialed in for this Big Ten test after the non-conference doldrums over the holidays. But the spread is a hefty one, and the lean is small.
Consider a partial-unit play on PURDUE -12.5 (-115).
Over/Under
The Over is 4-0 in the Boilermakers’ last four games vs. a team with a winning record. When Purdue scores 100 in a game, the Over is 7-1 the next time out.
Neither side plays an up-tempo style, but the Boilermakers have a dynamic and efficient offense. This total has the look of the public expecting a Badgers defense circa 2019 of 2020. Both sides excel at getting to the foul line. Look for this game to get into the 140s.
BACK THE OVER 139.5 (-115).
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