Despite leading at the end of the first half, the No. 18 Purdue Boilermakers couldn’t hold off the fourth-ranked Maryland Terrapins, who rallied and eventually defeated them last Saturday, 72-61. Now, the Boilermakers will hope to regroup and unleash their frustrations when they play host to the No. 8 Michigan State Spartans tonight. Can Purdue get it done? Or will the Spartans hand them another loss?
Let’s now take a closer look at this Big Ten matchup below. And if you’re craving for some NBA action as well, you can check out our detailed preview of the Houston Rockets vs. Golden State Warriors.
[sc:MarchMadness ]Michigan State Spartans vs. Purdue Boilermakers Preview
Where: Mackey Arena, West Lafayette, Indiana
When: Tuesday, February 9, 2016, 7:00 PM ET
Line: Michigan State Spartans (-1) at Purdue Boilermakers (+1)– view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Michigan State Spartans (20-4, 7-4 Big Ten)
[sc:NCAAB240banner ] The Michigan State Spartans have not only been winning their games lately, but have also been beating their opponents in resounding fashion. They’ve won their previous four games and have beaten their opponents by an average margin of 22.5 points in that stretch. The Spartans will look to continue their run opposite the No. 18 Purdue Boilermakers tonight.
A testament to their on-going success is the pair of Denzel Valentine and Bryn Forbes. The two are the Spartans’ top scoring threats this season, averaging of 18.6 and 14.3 points per game respectively. Valentine, in particular, marches into this match having scored 10 or more points in his past 17 games. That stretch includes their win over Michigan on Saturday, wherein he almost finished with a triple-double, tallying 21 points, nine boards and eight dimes.
On the other side of the court, penetrating a very sturdy Purdue defense is going to be easier said than done. And if the Spartans do struggle to get some baskets, they can compensate for it through their own defense as well. Michigan State is giving up just 62.9 points this season, which is among the best in the country.
The Spartans are 7-3 SU and 5-5 ATS in its last 10 road games.
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Betting on the Purdue Boilermakers (19-5, 7-4 Big Ten)
Even with A.J. Hammons finishing with another double-double (18 points and 10 boards), the Purdue Boilermakers couldn’t come away with the road win on Saturday against Maryland. That setback marked their fifth of the season and their fourth one in conference play. They’ll hope that the thunderous cheers from their home crowd can help them get back on track versus the eighth-ranked Michigan State Spartans.
No matter how well Hammons’ play has been, the Boilermakers can’t solely rely on their senior center for offense. They’ll really need the pair of Vince Edwards and Isaac Haas to make their presence felt as well. Both are tallying at least 10 points per game this year.
As for the defense, the Boilermakers will have to tighten up their inside defense especially with Spartans big man Matt Costello, who has six double-doubles already this season, lurking around the paint for those offensive rebounds and crucial put-backs. Purdue is yielding just 63.0 points per game, good for 14th-lowest in the nation.
The Boilermakers are 8-2 SU and 7-3 ATS in their past 10 games at home.
Writer’s Prediction
Purdue (+1) wins, 72-68.
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