The Purdue Boilermakers take on the Iowa Hawkeyes in Iowa City, Iowa, on Saturday, Feb. 14. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. ET on FOX.
Purdue is favored by -1.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -120. Iowa, meanwhile, enters as a +1.5 underdog and is +100 on the moneyline to pull off the upset. The over/under sits at 140.5 total points.
Here are my Purdue vs. Iowa predictions and college basketball picks for Saturday, February 14.
Purdue vs Iowa Prediction
My Pick: Iowa +1.5 (Play to -1)
My Purdue vs Iowa best bet is on the Hawkeyes to cover the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Purdue vs. Iowa Odds
| Purdue Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -105 | 140.5 -110o / -110u | -120 |
| Iowa Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -115 | 140.5 -110o / -110u | +100 |
- Purdue vs Iowa Spread: Purdue -1.5
- Purdue vs Iowa Over/Under: 140.5 points
- Purdue vs Iowa Moneyline: Purdue -120, Iowa +100
Purdue vs Iowa College Basketball Betting Preview
Purdue Basketball
Purdue has been the model of excellence in the Big Ten for the last five seasons or so, and this year really isn't much different.
Michigan sits alone atop the Big Ten standings, but the Boilermakers are right on its heels, and once again look like a team with enough pieces to make a run to the Final Four.
It all starts with All-American senior point guard Braden Smith. Talk about a guy who has been through the battles and knows how to deliver when it matters most.
Smith has been a four-year starter, and it seems like he finds a way to add a new element to his game every year.
Fletcher Loyer has been his longtime backcourt mate, and although he's been a bit up-and-down this season, Loyer is a pure shooter who's always dangerous when he gets a clean look.
The third guy in this proverbial "Big Three" is big man Trey Kaufman-Renn. Another veteran, the senior is a load on the backboards and has an elite back-to-the-basket arsenal in the post.
There have been two questions all year: Can Purdue get enough from outside its top three, and can the Boilermakers defend well enough against elite offensive teams?
The defense is definitely not elite, but it's starting to come around as March approaches.
The Boilers now reside inside the top 25 nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency and also rank seventh in offensive rebound rate allowed.
After a scare at home to Oregon, Purdue notched an impressive road victory at Nebraska on Tuesday night, so Saturday afternoon represents an unbelievable opportunity for the Boilermakers to secure a second victory over an NCAA Tournament team on the road in one trip.
To do so, Purdue must continue to commit to the defensive end and take care of the basketball.
Iowa Basketball
Ben McCollum has done a heck of a job in his first year in Iowa City.
The Hawkeyes are poised to return to the NCAA Tournament and currently sit near the top of the Big Ten standings at 8-5 in league play.
Bennett Stirtz came with McCollum from Drake to Iowa, and he's leading the way at his new home.
The senior guard can do just about anything with the ball in his hands, has deep range from 3 and is constantly getting to the lane and making plays.
Tavion Banks is another former Drake Bulldog who's a versatile wing who does a little bit of everything to help the team win.
For the year, the Hawkeyes have shown a great balance, ranking inside the top 32 in both offensive and defensive efficiency rankings.
This team doesn't beat itself, shoots free throws well and forces turnovers at a high rate while taking care of the ball when it has possession.
Does Iowa have the same ceiling as some of the other elite teams in the Big Ten? Probably not, given the lack of starpower outside of Stirtz, but I like its chances of beating Purdue in this one.
In the earlier matchup in West Lafayette, Iowa went blow-for-blow with the Boilers before falling down the stretch in a competitive game.
Now, in front of its home crowd and coming off a bad road loss to Maryland, this should be an ideal bounce-back opportunity for the Hawkeyes.
Purdue vs Iowa Pick Betting Analysis
I think Iowa wins this basketball game.
It's a great situational spot for the Hawkeyes after a bad l,oss and I expect McCollum's team to come out with its hair on fire as a result.
Meanwhile, Purdue enters this one off a physical road game at Nebraska that went to overtime, with a showdown at home against Michigan on deck. Total sandwich spot.
Stirtz can match Smith's brilliance, and Iowa has shot the ball better at home all season.
This game will definitely be one with plenty of runs from both teams, but give me the Hawkeyes to pull away late and get it done in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
My Pick: Iowa +1.5 (Play to -1)
