Wisconsin Badgers at Purdue Boilermakers Betting Preview

Opening Line: Wisconsin +8 / Purdue -8 O/U 126

Time: 7 PM EST Thursday January 28, 2010 on ESPN

Tonight in a Big 10 match up the 12th ranked Purdue Boilermakers host the 16th ranked Wisconsin Badgers. Purdue was undefeated before losing at Wisconsin on the 9th of this month and after that they dropped another couple of conference games in a row before regrouping to win their last 2 games. Wisconsin has been playing good hoops lately, as they have won 4 of their last 5 games including their last 2. The game may be more important for Purdue, as if they lose they will only be .500 in Big 10 play.

This season Purdue is 9-1 at home and 8-9-1 ATS and Wisconsin is 2-3 on the road and 9-7 ATS.

In their last games Wisconsin beat Penn State in OT 79-71 on Sunday and Purdue beat Michigan 69-59 on Saturday.

The Boilermakers have won 3 straight against the Badgers at home holding Wisconsin to an average of 56.7 ppg per game and 38% shooting in those meetings.

Wisconsin cannot afford to get off to a bad start in this game, which they have been doing as of late. Even though they have won 3 of their last 4 games they are only averaging 21.7 ppg in that span.

The Badgers come into this game shorthanded, as 2nd leading scorer and leading rebounder Jon Leuer (15.4 ppg 6.2 rpg) is out after breaking his wrist in the last game against Purdue. Leading scorer Trevon Hughes (16.4 ppg) and G Jason Bohannon (10.8 ppg) will have to shoot the rock well from the outside in this game.

The Badgers are only shooting 26.5% from downtown in their last 6 games and they have to hit the 3 tonight to have any chance to win this game.

Purdue has a legit inside-outside game with G E'Twaun Moore (17.5 ppg), Robbie Hummel (16.1 ppg), and F/C JaJuan Johnson (14.2 ppg). Hummel and Johnson may have big games since the Badgers do not have much of an inside presence with Leuer injured. Johnson has averaged 22.5 ppg in the Boilermakers last 2 wins.

The Badgers have to play solid defense on Johnson and Hummel, as they can't let these guys dominate the lane on both ends of the court.

Purdue is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games, are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 home games, and the total has gone Over in 4 of their last 5 games. Wisconsin is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games as a road underdog and the total has gone Under in 9 of their last 11 games.

Our Selection : Purdue will have revenge on their mind after getting beat by the Badgers nearly three weeks ago. Take the Boilermakers -9