Northwestern Wildcats vs Purdue Boilermakers NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/5/25
Looking to win big? The Wildcats and Boilermakers face off at 2:00 ET on BTN. The Boilermakers are hosting the game at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, IN. The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 137.5 points, and Purdue is favored by -7.5 to win at home against Northwestern.
NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS VS PURDUE BOILERMAKERS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Northwestern Wildcats +7.5
This game will be played at Mackey Arena at 2:00 ET on Sunday, January 5th.
WHY BET THE NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-70 in favor of the Boilermakers.
- Even though we have Purdue winning straight-up, we like Northwestern at +7.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 137.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 146 points.
Do the Wildcats Stand a Chance in West Lafayette?
Northwestern’s season record dropped to 10-4 following an 84-80 road loss to Penn State on Thursday. The Wildcats were +4.5 point underdogs going into the game but managed to cover the spread.
Northwestern trailed 37-34 at halftime. They scored 46 points in the 2nd half but allowed 47. The total points for the game was 164, exceeding the O/U line of 144.5.
Northwestern put up 80 points in their last game, shooting 45.9% from the field. They struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 27.3% of their threes, but connected on 56.4% of their two-point attempts. At the free-throw line, they were impressive, making 85.7% of their shots.
Offensive rebounding was a key factor, as the Wildcats grabbed 16 boards on that end, leading to 19 assists as a team. Zach Hicks and Brooks Barnhizer each scored 20 points, with Barnhizer adding 11 rebounds and 8 assists. Nick Martinelli contributed 18 points, while Ace Baldwin had 17 points despite shooting just 1/7 from the field.
Northwestern’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 84 points on 50% shooting. They allowed 62% shooting from inside the arc, with opponents hitting 18 of 29 two-point attempts.
From three-point range, Northwestern held their opponents to 26% shooting, with just 4 made threes. However, they sent the other team to the line 45 times, where they converted 36 free throws at an 80% rate.
Will the Boilermakers Secure A Victory as Home Favorites?
Purdue improved to 10-4 on the season with an 81-61 road win over Minnesota on Thursday. The Boilermakers entered the game as -5.5 favorites and covered the spread, while the total points of 142 went over the pre-game line of 135.5.
After leading 28-27 at halftime, Purdue dominated the second half, outscoring the Golden Gophers 53-34 to secure the win.
Purdue’s offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, as they put up 81 points on 50% shooting from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 58.6%, thanks in part to their 44% shooting from beyond the arc, hitting 11 of 25 attempts. They also connected on 75% of their free throws, going 12 for 16 from the line.
Fletcher Loyer was a standout performer, scoring 24 points on 8 of 10 shooting, including 4 of 6 from three-point range. Braden Smith contributed 20 points and 10 assists, hitting 5 threes in the game. Purdue finished with 21 assists as a team and grabbed 10 offensive rebounds.
Despite Purdue’s defensive struggles inside, they managed to hold their opponent to just 61 points. The Boilermakers allowed 48% shooting overall, with 60% from two-point range, as their opponent hit 21 of 35 shots inside the arc.
Purdue did a solid job defending the three, limiting their opponent to 23% shooting, with just 4 made threes on 17 attempts. They also caught a break at the free-throw line, where their opponent shot only 43%, making 7 of 16 attempts.