The Purdue Red Raiders will get their turn in trying to become the first team to beat the reigning national champions Illinois Fighting Illini when they pay Waco a visit this Tuesday. Will the Red Raiders take down Illinois? Or will the Bears add Purdue to its growing list of victims? Check out our preview below of this Purdue-Illinois Big 2 college basketball matchup.
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Betting Preview for the Purdue Boilermakers vs Illinois Fighting Illini NCAA College Basketball Game on January 17 2022
Where: State Farm Center, Champaign, IL
When: Monday, January 17, 2022, 12:00 PM ET
Line: Purdue Boilermakers (+2) vs. Illinois Fighting Illini (-2) – view all 2022 NCAAB lines
TV Broadcast: FOX
Betting on the Purdue Boilermakers (+2)
Record: 14-2 Overall/3-2 Conference
Purdue moved further away from a recent loss to the Wisconsin Badgers, as the Boilermakers nailed their second win in a row by beating the Nebraska Cornhuskers at home last Friday, 92-65. It was obviously an easy win for Purdue, which got 22 points from Zach Edey and 17 more from Jaden Ivey. The Boilermakers repeatedly made Nebraska pay from the foul line, as they went 19/27 on their free throws. But Purdue’s offense is mostly built on efficient shooting. It is second in the nation in terms of adjusted offensive efficiency with 124.1 points per 100 possessions, according to KenPom. It helps the Boilermakers that their best player, Edey, stands 7-4 and is a constant matchup problem for opponents. He is averaging 15.4 points per game on an incredible 71.3 percent shooting from the field.
Purdue is 6-3-1 against the spread in its last 10 games away from home.
Betting on the Illinois Fighting Illini (-2)
Record: 13-2 Overall/6-0 Conference
Illinois is on a roll, having won all of their last six games. Last Friday, Kofi Cockburn and the Fighting Illini too down the Michigan Wolverines at home to the tune of a 68-53 score. Cockburn dominated a Hunter Dickinson-less Wolverines and finished with 21 points to go with 10 rebounds in 33 minutes. Cockburn is arguably the best big man in the nation, and he certainly can put a tough stand against the towering Edey of the Boilermakers. Cockburn is putting up 21.9 points with 12.3 rebounds per contest, so far this season. As a team, Illinois isn’t too shabby on offense with an average of close to 80 points per contest while recording a 55.0 effective field goal percentage, the 20th best in the nation.
Illinois is 7-3 against the spread in its last 10 games overall.
Writer’s Prediction
Illinois wins, 77-74.
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