2:05 pm
March 12

Big Ten Tournament: #9 Ohio State v. #20 Purdue

Who will WIN this matchup?

#9 Ohio State Buckeyes (19-8)

#20 Purdue Boilermakers (18-8)

 

Current odds:

Ohio State Buckeyes: (-120)

Purdue Boilermakers: (+100)

 

• The spread for the game is Ohio State by 1 point.

• Purdue (18-8) has won five straight and 11 of 14 to earn the fourth seed as the young players matured. The Purdue website notes that KenPom.com ranks the Boilermakers No. 328 out of 347 Division I teams in experience (1.04 years).

• A young Purdue team might have sneaked up on the rest of the ultra-competitive Big Ten, but the No. 20 Boilermakers are ready for the big stage when they play No. 9 Ohio State in a quarterfinal of the conference tournament in Indianapolis, Ind., on Friday. The Buckeyes (19-8), the fifth seed, defeated 13th seed Minnesota 79-75 on Thursday to end a four-game losing streak.

• The Boilermakers’ Jaden Ivey and Zach Edey each made the all-Big Ten freshmen team. Ivey moved into a starting role when Sasha Stefanovic missed three games because of COVID-19 protocol. As good as Ivey and Edey are, though, Purdue looks to Trevion Williams in the clutch. He was named first team All-Big Ten by averaging 15.2 points and 8.8 rebounds.

• Purdue won both games against the Buckeyes this season, 67-60 at home on Dec. 16 and a 67-65 thriller in Columbus, Ohio, on Jan. 19 when Ivey hit a jumper to break a 65-65 tie with five seconds left.

4/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
#20 Purdue Boilermakers
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