The Michigan Wolverines are hosting the Purdue Boilermakers today in Big Ten College Basketball action. The game is scheduled for a 2:00 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on ESPN2. Currently the betting odds for the game have this one listed as a toss up in what should be an excellent game.
The line is absent at many locations, presumably because the status of Michigan’s best player is still up in the air. Caris LeVert makes Michigan a considerably better team when he is on the floor, but the Wolverines have also played well without him this season.
It’s surprising to see Purdue listed as a small favorite, given the style of play is so different compared to Michigan. The Boilermakers love to pound the basketball inside and dominate on the interior. That’s a matchup nightmare for Michigan, which is a perimeter-oriented team that needs to knock down jump shots in order to stay in big games like this.
Both squads are 8-4 in Big Ten play, Purdue won the first matchup with Michigan earlier this season. The Wolverines have three losses at Crisler Center this season, which includes two in a row to Indiana and Michigan State, a pair of games where they were blown out. Xavier also won in Ann Arbor, which makes this a big contest for the Wolverines.
A win over Purdue would give Michigan a third Top 50 RPI win. Michigan does not have a single “bad” loss all season, but they need to begin piling up some strong victories in gams where they can win to bolster the resume. Michigan’s worst loss on the season was to Connecticut on a neutral floor, the Huskies have the 46th best RPI in the country.
If Michigan can connect from beyond the arc, they can hang around here. Purdue is coming in off a huge win over Michigan State, Michigan comes into this one off a road win at Minnesota. John Beilein’s team really needs a big win.
Free Pick: Michigan
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