Purdue Boilermakers at Michigan State Spartans
Saturday, 1/5/12, 12:00 PM EST, TV: Big Ten Network
Opening Point Spread: Michigan State -10
Current Betting Line: Michigan State -11
Opening Total: 127
Current Total: 127
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
![](https://www.madduxsports.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Keith-Appling-michigan-state-12-1-300x168.jpg)
Purdue earned a 68-61 win over the Illinois Fighting Illini as three-point home underdogs Wednesday night, which served as the team’s fourth-straight win to open Big Ten Conference play. The Boilermakers have out-rebounded each opponent during their current three-game win streak, including a 45-35 edge last time out. Offensively, the team has scored 84 of its 141 points over the last two games in the painted area, while outscoring foes by an average of 8.3 points per game in the block for the entire year. Purdue is 2-7 ATS when playing a team with a winning record this year, which can’t be ignored when making your college basketball picks against the spread Saturday.
The Boilermakers have one player averaging in double figures offensively, with junior guard Terone Johnson scoring 13.6 points per game, as he’s put up 10 or more points in 17 of his last 20 games dating back to last season. Purdue gets after it on the perimeter defensively, limiting opponents to 30.5 percent shooting from long range, which ranks third in the conference.
Michigan State will look to bounce back after suffering a disappointing 76-63 loss to the Minnesota Golden Gophers as 6.5-point road underdogs on New Year’s Eve, while going OVER the posted total of 128.5. The Spartans have won their last 10 conference home openers, while also managing to win 27 of their last 28 at the Breslin Center. The team is led by point guard Keith Appling on the offensive end, averaging 14.9 points per game, while posting a team-high in points in nine of 14 games. Michigan State is 1-3 ATS as a home favorite of 9.5 to 12 points over the last two-plus seasons.
The Spartans have out-rebounded 458 of 595 opponents during the Tom Izzo era, including 13 of 14 in the early going of the 2012-13 college basketball campaign. Izzo has compiled a 19-13 career record in this series, which includes three consecutive victories. Michigan State is allowing opponents to shoot 36.8 percent from the field, including 30.9 from beyond the arc.
Sports bettors will likely back the Spartans due to the favorite being 15-7 ATS in the last 22 meetings in this series.
Don’t miss out on a winning season and let the college basketball handicappers at Maddux Sports line your pockets with cash. Long term packages are available now!