Michigan State Spartans at Purdue Boilermakers Betting Odds

Opening Line: MSU +4 / Purdue -4 O/U 135.5

Time: 4 PM EST Sunday February 28, 2010

Today in a HUGE Big 10 match up the 3rd ranked Purdue Boilermakers host the 11th ranked Michigan State Spartans. If Purdue can win this game they will have beaten MSU twice this season and they will likely win the Big 12, as their last 2 games are against Penn State and Indiana, who have a combined conference record of 5-25. However, winning today and in the Big Dance will be harder for them, as they lost 2nd leading scorer and rebounder F Robbie Hummel to a season ending knee injury.

If the Spartans win this game the big 10 is wide open, as they will have 4 conference losses along with Purdue and Ohio State.

MSU has lost 4 of their last 6 games.

This season Purdue is 13-1 at home and 12-13-1 ATS and Michigan State is 7-4 on the road and 10-16 ATS.

In their last games the Spartans lost to Ohio State 74-67 last Sunday while the Boilermakers beat Minnesota 59-58 on Wednesday night.

Purdue is on a 10-game winning streak.

The loss of Hummel is huge for Purdue, as the only other listed forward on the roster is Patrick Bade, who has only averaged 1.7 ppg and 1.6 rpg this season. G E'Twaun Moore (17 ppg) and C JaJuan Johnson (14.8 ppg) will have to pick up the scoring slack without Hummel in the lineup.

The Spartans have lost 3 straight games against teams ranked in the top 25.

MSU has a well-balanced offense with 2 guards and 2 forwards averaging in double figures led by reigning Big 10 Player of the Year Kalin Lucas (15.4 ppg).

The MSU forward duo of Raymar Morgan (10.3 ppg 5.8 rpg) and Draymond Green (10.1 ppg 7.9 rpg) are both solid on the boards and Purdue C JaJuan Johnson (7.1 rpg) will really need help keeping them off the glass.

Hummel is a huge loss, but if the Boilermakers can win this game they have a good shot at a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and they will gain a ton of confidence knowing they can win without one of their big guns.

Michigan State is 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games, 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as a road underdog, and has an Under record of 6-1 in their last 7 road games.

Purdue is 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games as a favorite, 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games as a home favorite of 0.5-6.5, and has an Under record of 4-1 in their last 5 home games.

In the last 4 games between these 2 teams at Purdue the total has gone Under.

Our Selection : This season Purdue is 13-1 at home and 12-13-1 ATS. Winning today will be harder for them, as they lost 2nd leading scorer and rebounder F Robbie Hummel to a season ending knee injury. Huge game for MSU should be able to keep it close and think they have a chance to win outright. Take the Spartans +4