A pair of Top 20 teams, each off to 8-2 starts, clash Saturday at the Indy Classic when the Purdue Boilermakers take on the Texas A&M Aggies at Noon ET from Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
My Purdue vs Texas A&M predictions expect the more offensively minded Boilermakers to outlast the stingier Aggies.
Read why in my college basketball picks for December 14.
Texas A&M vs Purdue prediction
My best bet
Purdue -2.5 (-110 at bet365)
My analysis
Purdue is coming off an 83-78 win over Maryland, evening its Big Ten record at 1-1.
The Boilermakers sit eighth in KenPom’s offensive efficiency metric while averaging 78.3 points per game. That’s helped along by the fact Purdue scorches from distance, hitting 40.8% of its treys.
The Boilermakers are led by junior forward Trey Kaufman-Renn, leading the team in points (18.9 per game) and rebounds (6.7). Braden Smith has been keeping everyone well fed at 8.8 assists per contest, while Fletcher Loyer is drilling the moneyball at a 52.5% clip.
Texas A&M relies heavily on its defense, which currently ranks ninth in KenPom’s defensive efficiency metric. The team holds opponents to just 38% field-goal shooting, just outside the Top 20 in the NCAA.
Offensively, senior guard Wade Taylor IV leads the team in scoring at 16.1 points per game and has been the Texas A&M high man in six of the last seven games.
The key differentiator here is outside shooting. The Aggies are outside the Top 300, shooting just 30% from 3-point range.
Even if they make up some of that disadvantage with the third-best offensive rebounding numbers in the nation, Purdue’s five minutes leaders shoot the 3-ball at 42% or better.
While it adds up to a close game, the Boilermakers, who’ve already topped two highly rated SEC opponents, are in a good position to make it three.
Texas A&M vs Purdue same-game parlay
Purdue -2.5
Wade Taylor IV Over 16.5 points
Braden Smith
While he hasn’t shot it well all season, Taylor IV is coming off his second-highest scoring game of the season, hanging 19 points on Texas Tech in a 72-67 victory.
Despite shooting under 40% from the field in six of his last seven, Taylor has topped his 16.5 scoring total set for Saturday four times and missed the Over by a bucket the other three.
The senior is averaging 15 field goal attempts per game over his last six outings, so he should be around this number again this afternoon.
Smith is tied for second in the nation in assists, and he’s gone for at least nine dimes in five of his last seven outings, including 10 assists in the win over Maryland.
He doesn’t crater in big moments: In three games against ranked teams this season, he’s topped the 8.5 assist line each time.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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Texas A&M vs Purdue odds
Texas A&M vs Purdue live odds
Texas A&M vs Purdue opening odds
- Spread: Texas A&M +2.5 (-110) | Purdue -2.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Texas A&M +115 | Purdue -135
- Over/Under: Over 143 (-110) | Under 143 (-110)
Odds courtesy of bet365
Texas A&M vs Purdue betting trend to know
Purdue has won 21 straight day games against non-conference competition. Find more college basketball betting trends for Texas A&M vs. Purdue.
How to watch Texas A&M vs Purdue
| Location: | Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN |
| Date: | Saturday, 12-14-2024 |
| Tip-off: | 12:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | CBS |
Texas A&M vs Purdue key injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
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