Purdue faces Penn State on Friday, February 26th at Bryce Jordan Center for an NCAA basketball Big Ten matchup.
Purdue is coming off a 75-58 win over Nebraska in its last game on the road on February 20th. Purdue has now won two straight games and has won three of its last four games as well. Purdue is now in fifth place in the Big Ten standings, as the Boilermakers are 15-8 overall and 10-6 in conference play this season. Purdue is also 11-10-2 against the spread this season. Purdue's leading scorer so far this season has been F Trevion Williams, who has scored 16.0 points per game for the Boilermakers. Purdue as a team has scored 70.8 points per game and has shot the ball at a 44.7% clip from the field. Purdue has also allowed 66.3 points per game to its opponents as well.
Penn State is coming off an 86-83 win over Nebraska in its last game on the road on February 23rd. Penn State snapped a vicious four-game losing streak that included a bad loss to Nebraska as well. Penn State is 8-12 overall and a measly 5-11 in Big Ten conference play this season. Penn State is right at .500 in terms of playing against the spread, as the Nittany Lions are 10-10. Penn State's leading scorer so far this season has been G Myreon Jones, who has scored 15.6 points per game for the Nittany Lions. Penn State as a team has scored 73.4 points per game and has shot the ball at a 41.0% clip from the field. Penn State has also allowed 74.3 points per game to its opponents as well.
Purdue opens as a 1-point favorite and the total is set at 140. I am going to take a shot with the home team in Penn State, as Purdue has five road losses in conference play this season, and Penn State has been decent at home. Penn State certainly has the talent to win this game outright, and I think the Lions get the job done.
AUTHOR: Ron Romanelli
