Iowa vs. Purdue Expert Pick and Prediction - February 9, 2023
IOWA VS. PURDUE EXPERT PICK AND PREDICTION - FEBRUARY 9, 2023  - The college basketball slate on Thursday isn’t as exciting as it usually is.
Nonetheless, there are a few interesting matchups, and Iowa hitting the road against top-ranked Purdue is a thrilling Big Ten battle. Let's get to the odds, analysis, and my pick.Â
The Odds
Matchup |
Open |
Spread |
Points |
Moneyline |
Iowa(15-8) |
+8 |
+7.5 |
o150.5 |
--- |
Purdue(22-2) |
u150 |
-7.4 |
u150.5 |
--- |
Tipoff
When: Thursday, February 9th at 7:00 pm EST
Where:Â Mackey Arena, West Lafayette, IN
TV:Â ESPN2
Public Bets: 62%, Purdue
Public Money: 83%, Iowa
Odds courtesy of DraftKings, as of February 8th, 2023
Iowa vs. Purdue In-Season Trends
Purdue maintained the top spot in the AP polls despite losing just its second game of the year. This one came against Indiana on Saturday by five points. Granted, that game was on the road, and the Hoosiers are a top-25 team, so take it as you will.Â
Purdue and Iowa have not played each other yet this season, and this will be their only regular-season matchup. Purdue has just one loss at home all year, and it was a one-point loss to Rutgers at the beginning of January, so they play really well in Mackey Arena.Â
Iowa has been off and on all year long. The Hawkeyes won four in a row to start January, then lost a pair (including a 16-point loss to Ohio State), and then won three straight with wins over Rutgers, Northwestern, and Illinois.
All three wins came at home, and playing at Purdue is never easy.
The Difference-Makers
Kris Murray has been fantastic all year long for the Hawkeyes, leading the way with 20.5 PPG and 8.5 rebounds. He has 15 or more points in each of the last three games and nine of the last 10 entering this matchup.Â
On the other side, Zach Edey has been the heart and soul of the Purdue team, averaging 22.4 PPG with 13.2 rebounds. In the loss to Indiana, he shined bright with 33 points and 18 rebounds on 15-19, and he has double-doubles in each of the last three games.
The Pick
Iowa is 7-2 against the spread over the last nine games, and Purdue is coming off a crushing loss to Indiana. However, Iowa is just 2-6 against Purdue in the last eight games, and the Hawkeyes are 1-4 in their last five road games.Â
The Boilermakers can’t afford to lose this game if they want to stay at No. 1, and they respond with a dominating victory at home. Take the Boilermakers' moneyline, spread, and take the over.
Matt's Picks |
Purdue ML (-275)Purdue -7.5OVER 150.5 Total Points |
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Author
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Matthew has been covering sports for a half dozen years and originated in Southern California. He now lives in Fresno and is a Fresno State alum.
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Author
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Matthew has been covering sports for a half dozen years and originated in Southern California. He now lives in Fresno and is a Fresno State alum.
View all posts