Purdue Boilermakers at Michigan State Spartans Betting Odds

Opening Line: Purdue +2.5 / Michigan State -2.5 O/U 139

Time: 9 PM EST Tuesday February 9, 2010 on ESPN

Tonight in an important Big 10 match up between 2 teams ranked in the top 10 the 10th ranked Michigan State Spartans host the 6th ranked Purdue Boilermakers. The Spartans lead the Big 10 leading the Boilermakers by 1.5 games, but they have lost 2 games in a row while Purdue has won 5 straight.

This season MSU is 13-0 at home and 9-13 ATS and Purdue is 4-2 on the road and 9-11-1 ATS.

In their last games Michigan State lost to Illinois 78-73 on Saturday while Purdue beat Indiana 78-75 last Friday.

In this rivalry game both teams have pretty much the exact same stats, as both teams are averaging about 75 ppg and both are giving up an average of 63 ppg.

The Spartans may be without reigning Big 10 Player of the Year Kalin Lucas (15.6 ppg) for tonight's game with a sprained ankle. If he can't go the Spartans will really have to win this game on defense, as the other 3 players that are averaging in double figures are only averaging around 10 ppg.

MSU could really use Lucas in this game, as he has averaged 17.8 ppg in 4 career games against Purdue.

Purdue has a very well balanced team with E'Twaun Moore (17.2 ppg), F Robbie Hummel (16.5 ppg), and F/C JaJuan Johnson (14.4 ppg). Johnson has been playing great lately, as in the Boilermakers 5-game winning streak he has averaged 18.6 ppg including going for 21 points and 9 boards in Purdue's last game.

Michigan State has to play good D on Johnson, as when he scores at least 8 points Purdue is 18-0 this season.

MSU F Draymond Green (10.5 ppg 8.3 rpg) has to rebound well tonight and take up some of the scoring slack if Lucas can't go.

The Spartans have yet to lose at home this season and have won 18 straight at the Jack Breslin Student Events Center.

Purdue is 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games, 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games, and has an Over record of 4-0 in their last 4 road games.

Michigan State is 2-5 ATS in their last 7 home games, 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite, and has an Under record of 7-3 in their last 10 games.

In this head-to-head match up 6 of the last 7 games have gone Under and Purdue is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games against MSU.

Our Selection : We're going to fade the public consensus here and go with Boilermakers who have put together a 5 game winning streak after dropping 3 in a row. The Spartans have lost back to back games since losing last year's Big Ten player of the year Kalin Lucas to injury. He questionable tonight, but we're under the belief that he won't go tonight. Take Purdue +3