GAME:  #737 Purdue  vs #738 Illinois
TIME:    1/2/2021 – 6:00p EST
SPREAD:   Illinois -8
TOTAL:      148

The Purdue Boilermakers (7-4, 2-2) have a BIG 10 road game against the #15 Illinois Fighting Illini (7-3, 3-1) at State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois on Saturday at 6 p.m. EST. Purdue lost at Rutgers 76-81 in its last outing while Illinois beat Indiana 69-60. These teams met twice last season when Illinois dominated both games by scores of 63-37 at home and 62-79 at Purdue. 

PURDUE BOILERMAKERS

The Purdue Boilermakers are averaging 61.7 points per game on 41.2 field goal percentage shooting adding 6.3 three-pointers on 25% field goal shooting on the road. The Boilermakers turn the ball over 12 times per game and on the defensive end they allow 69.7 points per game on 45.3% field goal shooting allowing 33.3% from three-point land. Purdue forces 10 turnovers per game while adding 6.7 steals and four blocks per game on defense. 

ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI

The Illinois Fighting Illini are averaging 91.4 points per game on 53.4% field goal shooting adding 8.83 Zone 42.7% from deep on their home floor.  On defense, Illinois is allowing 59.6 points per game on 35.5% field-goal shooting while forcing 10.4 turnovers per game and adding 8.2 steals and 2.8 blocks.

 TRENDS(covers.com)

PURDUE

• Over is 4-0 in the Boilermaker’s last 4 Saturday games.
• Boilermakers are 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following an ATS loss.
• Boilermakers are 0-7-1 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning record.
• Boilermakers are 1-6-1 ATS in their last 8 games overall.

ILLINOIS

• Over is 8-1-1 in Fighting Illini last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
• Over is 7-1 in Fighting Illini last 8 overall.
• Over is 5-1 in Fighting Illini last 6 games as a favorite.
• Fighting Illini are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.

HEAD TO HEAD

• The home team is 6-1 ATS in the last 7 meetings.

PURDUE vs ILLINOIS PREDICTION

These teams have very similar rosters to last season and Illinois straight dominated Purdue last January. Illinois players have improved while Purdue is about the same as last year. Purdue will have a hard time matching up with Dosunmu and Cockburn and foul trouble tends to be a factor with Purdue’s big men forcing Purdue to go small. 

Illinois shoots lights out at home while Purdue has been terrible on the road. Purdue has dropped its last three road games, scoring 61.7 points and allowing 69.7 points during those contests. Illinois has won its last five home games, scoring an average of 91.4 points while giving up 59.6. Purdue’s only chance to stay in this game is by trying to keep up with Illinois’ scoring. 

The Bookie is rolling with the Illinois Fighting Illini to get the job done and cover the spread in a high scoring game that goes over the total. 

BETTING ANGLES:

The Bookie:         Illinois -8 / Over 148
Fade the Public:  Illinois / Over
Sharp Action:      Illinois / Over