Auburn Tigers vs Purdue Boilermakers NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/21/24

Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Tigers and Boilermakers. The game is starting at 4:30 ET on ESPN, and it’s hosted by the Boilermakers at Legacy Arena at BJCC in Birmingham, AL. Get ready to place your bets! Auburn comes into this non-conference matchup as the -9 point favorite. The over/under line currently sits at 149.5 points.

AUBURN TIGERS VS PURDUE BOILERMAKERS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Purdue Boilermakers +9

This game will be played at Legacy Arena at BJCC at 4:30 ET on Saturday, December 21st.

WHY BET THE PURDUE BOILERMAKERS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 79-67 in favor of the Boilermakers.
• Not only will Purdue pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +9.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 149.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 146 points.

Will the Tigers Find a Way to Win on the Road?

Auburn improved to 10-1 on the season with a dominant 100-59 win over Georgia State on Tuesday. Playing at home, the Tigers entered the game as heavy favorites, listed at -39, and managed to cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 159, surpassing the over/under line of 156.5.

Auburn led 43-31 at halftime before taking control in the second half, outscoring Georgia State 57-28. The Tigers’ strong defensive effort after the break was key to their convincing victory.

Auburn’s offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, putting up 100 points with a field goal percentage of 57.4% and an effective field goal percentage of 65.6%. They dominated inside, shooting 72.2% on two-point attempts, while hitting 36% from beyond the arc. At the free-throw line, they connected on 80.8% of their attempts.

Chaney Johnson led the way with 26 points and 8 rebounds, shooting 85.7% from the field. Denver Jones added 17 points, hitting 5 of 7 threes, while Nick McMullen contributed 15 points and 16 rebounds. Auburn also dished out 19 assists and grabbed 10 offensive rebounds in the win.

Despite Auburn’s defensive struggles, they managed to hold their opponent to 59 points. The Tigers allowed 35 made field goals on 61 attempts, with their opponent shooting 57% overall.

Inside the arc, Auburn’s defense gave up 26 two-point baskets on 36 attempts, a 72% shooting rate. From three-point range, their opponent hit 9 of 25 shots, shooting 36%. Auburn also sent their opponent to the line 26 times, where they made 21 free throws, an 80% rate. The Tigers allowed 10 offensive rebounds.

Are Purdue Ready for a Home Win?

Purdue’s season record dropped to 8-3 after a 70-66 home loss to Texas A&M on Saturday. The Boilermakers, who were favored by 2 points, not only lost the game but also failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game ended at 136, falling short of the 142.5-point O/U line.

Purdue trailed 38-35 at halftime and couldn’t turn things around in the second half, scoring 31 points while allowing 32. The Boilermakers will need to regroup as they look to bounce back in their next outing.

Purdue’s offense put up 66 points in their last game, shooting 45.3% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 52.8%. They hit 55.6% of their two-point attempts and went 9-for-26 from beyond the arc, shooting 34.6% from three. At the free-throw line, they were nearly perfect, hitting 9 of 10 attempts for 90%.

Braden Smith and Wade Taylor IV each contributed 15 points, with Smith knocking down 5 threes on 11 attempts. Zhuric Phelps and Pharrel Payne also added 16 points, with Payne going a perfect 6-for-6 from the field and grabbing 9 rebounds. Purdue finished with 16 assists and 8 offensive rebounds in the game.

Purdue’s defense gave up 70 points in their last game, with the opposing team shooting 45% from the field, connecting on 24 of their 53 attempts. Inside the arc, they shot 55%, making 15 of 27 two-point attempts.

From three-point range, Purdue allowed 9 threes on 26 attempts, a 34% shooting rate. The opposing team also went to the free-throw line 10 times, hitting 9 for 90%. Purdue gave up 8 offensive rebounds in the game.