The Ohio Bobcats (7-3) welcome the Purdue Boilermakers (6-4) to Convocation Center as they look to prolong their five-game home winning streak. The game starts at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday, December 17, 2019, and will air on ESPN2.
Purdue is a 9.5-point favorite on the opening line, while the game’s Over/Under (O/U) opened at 126 points.
Purdue Boilermakers vs. Ohio Bobcats Free Prediction
In the Boilermakers’ last matchup, they were 13-point favorites and lost to the Nebraska Cornhuskers, 70-56. The total points for the game (126) finished under the O/U total of 137. Nebraska’s 0.115 free throw rate was their biggest strength over Purdue, who had a mark of 0.025. The Cornhuskers’ mark was below their season average of 0.205, while the Boilermakers’ was below their season average of 0.187. Trevion Williams was Purdue’s high scorer with 18 points on 9-for-13 shooting.
The Bobcats had no trouble getting past the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles in their last game, 81-54, comfortably covering as 12-point favorites. The game’s combined points (135) were over the projected point total of 126.5. The Bobcats had an absurd offensive rebounding percentage of 34.2 (above their season average of 28.1) and had a turnover percentage of 11.4 (better than their season average of 17.9). Ben Vander Plas was the top scorer from either team with 21 points on 8-for-16 shooting from the field.
After the Boilermakers won the lone game against the Bobcats last season, 95-67, this will be the first matchup of the year between these two teams. The Boilermakers had a much better effective field goal percentage (0.683 vs. 0.491) and had a better turnover percentage (13.0 vs. 17.9).
Purdue heads into the contest with records of 6-4 straight up (SU) and 5-5 against the spread (ATS). Vegas is known to set the total high when the Boilermakers are involved, as 80.0 percent of their games have gone under the O/U total.
Meanwhile, Ohio owns records of 7-3 SU and 4-4 ATS. Of the Bobcats’ eight games that accepted bets, four have finished over the total.
This battle pits one of the NCAA’s top offenses against one of its elite defenses. Ohio ranks 32nd in effective field goal percentage (0.554) and Purdue is 30th in effective field goal percentage allowed (0.439).
Purdue Boilermakers at Ohio Bobcats Betting Pick
Basketball Pick: ATS Winner – Purdue, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
On the road, Purdue is 1-3 ATS with 4 unders and 0 overs.
Ohio is 1-1 ATS at home with 2 overs and 0 unders.
Purdue ranks 35th in rebounds per game (39.7) while Ohio ranks 155th (35.2).
The Bobcats rank 20th in assists per game (16.6) while the Boilermakers rank 76th in assists allowed per game (11.7).
Ohio ranks 17th in blocks allowed per game (2.2) while Purdue ranks 71st (3.1).
The Boilermakers rank 104th in three pointers attempted per game (23.7) while the Bobcats rank 155th in three pointers allowed per game (22.7).
Purdue ranks 39th in steals allowed per game (5.5) while Ohio ranks 78th (6.1).
Over its last five contests, Purdue is 3-2 ATS with 4 unders and 1 over.
Ohio is 2-2 ATS with 3 overs and 1 under over its last five games.
The Boilermakers’ average margin of victory in their last five games has been 5.8, down from 11.3 for the season.
During their last five games, the Bobcats have scored an average of 80.6 points per game (6.2 above their season average) and allowed an average of 65.8 points per game (matching their season average).
