NCAA Basketball Matchup: Purdue vs Ohio St.
Purdue and Ohio State split the season series last year. The Buckeyes beat the Boilermakers by 23 at home, but Purdue returned the favor by winning by 13 in West Lafayette. Purdue sits at just 5-5 in the Big Ten so far this year.
NCAAB Gambling: Boilermakers vs. Buckeyes
9:00 PM EST
College Basketball Gambling Odds from Bovada
NCAA Basketball Betting Favorite: Ohio State -14
Over/Under: 128
Ohio State is at the top of the conference at 8-2.
Can Purdue hang around in this one?
It’s great to see Robbie Hummel back in the lineup for Purdue this year. Hummel has missed the majority of the last two years with knee injuries.
Hummel leads the team with 15.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game this year. He is only shooting 39% from the floor, but I think that is largely because he has to do so much for this team.
Purdue really doesn’t have anyone else who can create their own shot consistently. Lewis Jackson is a penetrator, but he doesn’t have much of a jump shot. Ryne Smith is an outside shooter, but he isn’t a penetrator. As a team the Boilermakers shoot only 42.9% from the floor and 63.2% from the free throw line. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Ohio State picked up a big road win at Wisconsin this past Saturday. The Buckeyes defense was terrific in that one. Jared Sullinger led the team with 25 points and 10 boards in their win over the Badgers. Sullinger averages 17.4 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.
DeShaun Thomas is a guy that can fill it up in a hurry, and he averages 14.7 points per game. Lenzelle Smith Jr. is often overlooked, but he is a scrappy player who really makes a difference for the Buckeyes. Aaron Craft is one of the nation’s best point guards. Craft really gets after it on the defensive end.
The Buckeyes are one of the nation’s best rebounding teams. Opponents are averaging just 55.4 points per game against Ohio State.
It’s hard to imagine Purdue staying with Ohio State in this one. Hummel is very good, but Purdue isn’t deep enough to stick with the Buckeyes.
Prediction: Ohio State 72 Purdue 56
