
Wisconsin vs Purdue Betting Preview: Odds, Picks & Prediction
Betting Odds
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.
Free College Basketball Betting Pick
Wisconsin played Purdue tough over recent seasons when the Boilers had big Zach Edey, including a victory in the Big 10 tournament last season. And the Badgers are better right now than they were that day. Meanwhile we don’t believe we can say the same for Purdue. Wisconsin’s getting to the line, making its free throws, playing good defense and doing a good job on the boards. We like the Badgers for Saturday and they might not even need the points.