Arizona vs Purdue Odds, Picks and Predictions: Boilermakers Bully Wildcats Out of Indianapolis

Two of the top teams in college basketball will face off on Saturday afternoon as the undefeated No. 1 Arizona Wildcats visit the Purdue Boilermakers in what looks to be one of the biggest matchups of the regular season.

Arizona has punctuated its perfect start with wins over the Duke Blue Devils and the Michigan State Spartans, with both wins coming on the road. The Wildcats are once again road favorites in the college basketball odds over Purdue, which won the Maui Invitational but dropped a game to the Northwestern Wildcats to start its Big Ten slate. 

Saturday’s matchup pits the best big man in the country, Zach Edey, against a balanced Wildcats attack that nobody in the country has been able to solve this season. I’ll figure out who has the edge in my free college basketball picks for Arizona vs. Purdue on December 16.

Arizona vs Purdue best odds

Arizona vs Purdue picks and predictions

No matter which side of this game you like, everyone should agree this is a must-watch matchup for college basketball fans. Both teams excel offensively and defensively, and both rank inside the Top 4 of KenPom ratings. While Purdue has played an overall tougher schedule, Arizona’s road wins have done enough to prove the Wildcats can play with anyone, on any court, at any time.

As with any Purdue game, the analysis has to start with how Zach Edey will perform. The Boilermaker center is averaging 24.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game, both of which are among the leaders nationally. He has put up at least 23 points in seven of his last eight games, including a 35-point effort against the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday.

However, the Canadian senior should face some resistance today. Arizona senior Oumar Ballo (12.5 ppg) and 7-foot-2 freshman Motiejus Krivas (8.9 ppg) will spend most of the game dealing with Edey. Neither has quite the size of Edey — who measures 7-foot-4 — but they're both strong enough in the paint to defend him

The book on Purdue last season was that if you could slow down Edey, the rest of the Boilermakers might not be able to pitch in enough to beat you. Arizona has the more balanced attack with five players averaging at least 12 points on the season, led by point guard Caleb Love (14.1 ppg). 

However, Purdue has shown improved depth this year, with a perimeter attack that helps balance the Edey-heavy offense. Guards Braden Smith (13.2 ppg), Lance Jones (10.6 ppg), and Fletcher Loyer (10.2 ppg) can all step up to contribute on the offensive end and are all threats from beyond the 3-point line — shooting at least 35% from deep. That spacing will be critical for Purdue to beat Arizona and other elite teams in March.

Arizona’s road wins have been impressive, but neither Duke nor Michigan State is quite on the level of Purdue, which may be the national title favorite this season. With that in mind, I’m surprised the Wildcats are a slight favorite in this game, despite all they’ve accomplished.

Outside of the upset loss to Northwestern, Purdue has looked outstanding against elite-level competition, and the win over Alabama showed that the Boilermakers can adapt to a high-tempo opponent.

If this game were on a neutral court I would think this was a toss-up. But, with the Boilermakers playing host, I believe they're slight favorites to win the game outright, despite what the odds say. I’m taking Purdue on the moneyline.

My best bet: Purdue moneyline (+114 at DraftKings)

Arizona vs Purdue same-game parlay

Purdue moneyline

Over 159

Zach Edey Over 20.5 points

+425 at DraftKings

For today’s same-game parlay pick, I’m starting with my expectation Purdue will win this game outright. Let’s pair that with a bet on the Over at 159 points. Arizona plays some of the fastest basketball in the country, while Purdue has shown a tendency to go Over the total — and above 160 points — when playing quicker teams. 

With that many points on the board, it’s only natural to throw in a bet on Edey to score Over 20.5 points. Edey has hit this number in seven of his past eight games, and in what should be a competitive matchup, he should see plenty of the ball all game long.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Arizona vs Purdue spread and Over/Under analysis

Arizona opened today’s game as a one-point road favorite. The number is still tight, but the consensus has moved to Arizona -1.5, with some books going as far as making the Wildcats a two-point favorite.

Arizona has put up a perfect 8-0 record against the spread this year. However, Purdue has been kind to bettors as well, going 7-2-1 ATS on the season.

The total for today’s matchup opened at 159 points. The consensus Over/Under has risen slightly to 159.5 as of early Saturday, with most books offering equal action on both sides of the line.

Despite a high-powered offense and a fast-paced approach, it’s the Under that holds a 5-3 edge when Arizona plays this season. Meanwhile, Purdue has put up a 7-3 mark for the Over in its first 10 games.

Arizona vs Purdue betting trend to know

Purdue is 5-0 straight up at home this season. Find more college basketball betting trends for Arizona vs. Purdue.

Arizona vs Purdue game info

Arizona vs Purdue key injuries

Stay updated with the latest picks, odds, and news! Tap the to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

Pages related to this topic