Indiana Hoosiers AT #12 Purdue Boilermakers
Feb 8, 2011 at 7 PM EST
Opening Line: Purdue -14
Current Line: Purdue -13
Opening Total: 137.5
Current Total: 136.5
Opening Moneyline: Pur -1300 / Ind +850
Current Moneyline: Pur -1450 / Ind +850
The Boilermakers are coming off a tough loss to #13 seeded Wisconsin, a game in which they shot 47.9% from the floor. At home things might be a bit different. Purdue is undefeated at Mackey Arena and they give up a stingy 58 points per game on their homecourt. They have also won three straight against Indiana at home by an average of 15.4 a game.
Though they loss the game to Wisconsin, Purdue coach Matt Painter drew some positives from the game. “Our guys really came out and played with some life, played with some energy,” Painter said. E’Twaun Moore and JaJuan Johnson combined for 38 points and they are averaging 38.2 per game this season. “They are both outstanding senior leaders,” coach Tom Crean told Indiana’s official website. “Moore is a player that can get the crowd going very quickly with his shooting. Johnson is playing in the present as well as any senior player in the country.”
Indiana has a good shot at pulling an upset, despite being a .500 team. They have beat a #20 ranked Illinois team, beat #18 Minneosta, and fell in overtime to Michigan State.
Some betting trends:
Indiana is 6-15 ATS in their last 21 road games and 0-5 SU in their last 5 games on the road. The total has gone OVER in 6 of Indiana’s last 7 games on the road and Indiana is 2-5 SU in their last 7 road games against Purdue. The total has gone OVER in 4 of Indiana’s last 6 road games against Purdue.
Purdue is 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games and 18-5 SU in their last 23 games. The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Purdue’s last 6 games and Purdue is 5-0 SU in their last 5 at home. The total has gone OVER in 5 of Purude’s last 6 games against Indiana. Purdue is 6-12 SU in their last 18 games against the Hoosiers and 4-1 SU in their last 5 against Indiana. Purdue is 1-6 ATS in the their last 7 against Indiana and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 at home against the Hoosiers. Purdue is 5-2 SU in their last 7 at home against Indiana and the total has gone OVER in 4 of the last 6 at home against Indiana.
Indiana is led by 6’8″ sophomore forward Christian Watford. Watford averages 17 points per game and 5.8 rebounds per game in 29.5 minutes a night. He has scored in double figures in all but 2 Indiana games and has 6 games with 20+. His best game of the year came against Iowa on the road when he went for 30 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists, though Indiana lost the game by 14. 6’5″ junior guard Verdell Jones will make his presence felt as well. Jones averages 12.4 points per game and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 36.4% from three (12 of 33). Jones has had a few really good games, mixed with some mediocre, and some bad. He’s scored 20+ three times and Indiana has won all three of those games, so his success is definitely a big “X factor” for the Hoosiers.
Purdue is led by the aforementioned tandem of JaJuan Johnson and E’Twaun Moore. Johnson, a 6’10” senior center, is averaging 20.8 points per game, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks. Johnson has blocked a shot in all but one Purdue game and has had two games with 5 blocks (vs Howard and vs Penn State). Moore, a 6’4″ senior guard, is putting up 17.4 points per game and 3.4 assists, and 5.5 rebounds per game. He has scored in double figures in all but three Purdue games. He has scored 20+ 8 times and will be checked by Verdell Jones. He will look to use his strength to get good position on Jones and possibly draw some fouls. If he can manage to get Jones in foul trouble, Purdue should roll to an easy victory.
