The Northwestern Wildcats take on the Purdue Boilermakers in West Lafayette, IN. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network.
Purdue is favored by 8.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -355. The total is set at 137.5 points.
Here are my Northwestern vs. Purdue predictions and college basketball picks for January 5, 2025.
Northwestern vs Purdue Prediction
My Pick: Under 138.5 (Play to 138)
My Northwestern vs Purdue best bet is on the under, with the best odds currently available at FanDuel. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Northwestern vs Purdue Odds
| Northwestern Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+8.5 -112 | 137.5 -108 / -112 | +280 |
| Purdue Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-8.5 -108 | 137.5 -108 / -112 | -355 |
- Northwestern vs Purdue spread: Purdue -8.5
- Northwestern vs Purdue over/under: 137.5 points
- Northwestern vs Purdue moneyline: Purdue -355, Northwestern +280
- Northwestern vs Purdue best bet: Under 138.5 (Play to 138)
Spread
I'm avoiding the spread.
Moneyline
I'm avoiding the moneyline.
Over/Under
I'm taking the under down to 138.
My Pick: Under 138.5 (Play to 138)
Northwestern vs Purdue College Basketball Betting Preview
After a horrific loss, the Northwestern Wildcats look to rebound on Sunday in West Lafayette against the Purdue Boilermakers.
The officials hosed the Cats at the end of their last game against Penn State, and they're in a problematic situation because of it.
I don't know what to make of Purdue, despite it having a brutal strength of schedule thus far. The Boilermakers' best victories have come against Alabama and Maryland, with the remaining wins against cupcakes.
The same could be said about the Cats, but it's impossible to tell where they are mentally after Thursday night.
The best betting approach for Sunday's clash is targeting the total, specifically, the under.
KenPom projects the total at 139, so I'll be looking to grab that number or below. Both offenses are absolute snails, ranking outside the top 300 in adjusted tempo.
Northwestern ranks 366th in 3-point shot attempts per game, and Purdue ranks 166th. I wouldn't expect either club to light up the scoreboard from beyond the arc.
Purdue head coach Matt Painter has run one of the most consistent programs in the nation, and you can always count on the Boilers playing hard. They rank 75th in adjusted defensive efficiency, and I expect them to contain the Wildcats all afternoon.
Purdue is shooting 40% from deep, but I wouldn’t expect that type of production moving forward. Northwestern ranks in the middle of the pack in foul rate on defense, but the Boilermakers only shoot 73% as a team from the charity stripe.
The Boilermakers force many turnovers, and because of that, the Wildcats won't have many clean possessions.
Considering the state of the Northwestern team, it's not only thin in the depth department, but it has to be mentally drained from last Thursday’s contest against Penn State.
I could see the Boilermakers blowing out the Wildcats at home, but I think the much safer approach is taking the under. I have more faith in both defenses holding the opposing offenses in check instead of either team covering the number.
I expect a sloppy, slow-paced grinder in West Lafayette.
