The top-ranked Purdue Boilermakers will return to the scene of a 24-point loss last season when it travels to Crisler Arena to take on the Michigan Wolverines.
The Boilermakers, off to their best 20-game start in school history, were no match for the Wolverines and Hunter Dickinson last season at Crisler, but the emergence of center Zach Edey and the play of two freshmen gives them the edge this time around.
Edey is 10th in the country in scoring (21.5 points per game) and second in rebounding (13.2), while freshmen Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith have given Purdue two secondary scorers from the guard spot who are solid shooters from beyond the arc.
The Wolverines, who are 2-25 against No. 1 ranked teams with 12 straight losses, may be without second-leading scorer Jett Howard due to an ankle injury.
The 6’8” freshman guard, and son of Michigan coach Juwan Howard, averages 14.6 points. Still, that number was up to 17.4 per game in the five games prior to Sunday, when he went scoreless in 15 minutes of action before suffering the injury.
“Health is more important than any game,” Juwan Howard told the media. “He just wants to be there to help the team because that is how he is wired mentally.”
Let’s check the latest college basketball news, stats, injury reports and college basketball lines for Purdue vs Michigan. We’ve got plenty of NCAA basketball picks for you to consider.
Purdue Enjoys Edge
The Boilermakers, one of four teams in the nation to rank in the top 20 in both offensive and defensive efficiency, have enjoyed a big edge in rebounding and foul shooting.
With Edey leading the way, Matt Painter’s team is top in the nation in rebound margin (11 per game) and is second in offensive rebounding rate, according to KenPom.com.
The disparity in made free throws between the Boilermakers and their opponents has been even greater, with Purdue hitting 312 against just 187 for the opposition.
Edey is in the top 22 nationally in both made free throws (96) and free throw attempts (129), but Painter believes that many fouls on his center go uncalled.
“He (Edey) is getting away with some small things, but the magnitude of the fouls that are not getting called for him is like three to one,” Painter told the media. “All the egregious chucks, grabs, all of those things, they’ve got to be called.”
Hendricks and Kelly Need to Step Up
Dickinson, who scored 50 points across two meetings with Purdue last season, will need some help down low, and that job falls to forward Terrance Williams III.
The 6’7” forward isn’t much of a scorer at seven points per game and is an inconsistent rebounder, but he has recorded three double-digit rebound games this season.
“It’s not going to be an individual matchup with Zach and Hunter. I know on our end it’s not,” Howard, who is 4-1 against the Boilermakers, told the media.
Purdue vs Michigan Game Injuries
Purdue vs Michigan Head-to-Head
The Wolverines have won six of the last seven meetings with the Boilermakers, who lead the series 90-75, including a 24-25 mark at Crisler Center.
Purdue vs Michigan Game Information
- Game: Purdue (19-1, 8-1 Big Ten) vs Michigan (11-8, 5-3)
- Location: Crisler Center, Ann Arbor, MI
- Day/Time: Thursday, Jan. 26, 9:00 p.m. ET
- Purdue vs Michigan Live Stream: TBS.com
Purdue vs Michigan Betting Lines
Purdue vs Michigan Picks and Prediction
The NCAAB lines have made the Boilermakers 4½-point favorites despite the fact they are 8-12 against the spread (ATS), including 5-12 as the favorite. The Wolverines are 3-3 ATS as an underdog and 9-10 overall.
Four straight and eight of the last 10 Purdue games have finished under the total.
Purdue is listed at -210 in our Las Vegas college basketball odds. This means that if you wager $100 on the Boilermakers, you have a chance to win $48. Michigan is +175, offering a chance to win $175 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives Purdue a 67.74% chance to win, with the Wolverines 36.36%.
Purdue vs Michigan Trends
Purdue vs Michigan Edge
Purdue vs Michigan Results
Purdue vs Michigan Game Summary
