Michigan vs. Purdue Prediction: Can Michigan Upset the No. 1 Overall Team in the Nation?

Michigan vs. Purdue Prediction: Can Michigan Upset the No. 1 Overall Team in the Nation?

The Big 10 has a juicy matchup on the slate tonight, as the Purdue Boilermakers (19-1, 8-1) travel to Michigan to take on the Wolverines (11-8, 5-3) tonight. Michigan defeated Purdue 82-58 in Ann Arbor in the last meeting and will look to carry that success into this game tonight to knock off the No. 1-ranked team in the nation. Purdue only has one loss on the season, but a close game is expected tonight. Can Michigan cover as 5.5-point underdogs?

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Michigan vs. Purdue Start Time, Where to Watch, and Odds

• Date: Thursday, January 26, 2023
• Start Time: 9:00 p.m. EST
• Where to Watch: Fox Sports

Click here for Michigan vs. Purdue odds

Michigan vs. Purdue Prediction

Purdue won 13 straight games to start the season before losing to Rutgers 65-64 on January 2nd in their only game. The Boilermakers have now won their last six games, the most recent of which was a 58-55 victory over Maryland on Sunday, but they did not cover as a nine-point favorite. Zach Edey, a 7'4 center who is favored to win the Naismith College Player of the Year award, leads the way for Purdue. He averages 21.5 points per game, 13.2 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks—four players who shoot better than 34% from three support Edey. Fletcher Loyer is averaging 12.8 points per game and shooting 36.4% from three. Braden Smith, a freshman guard, is averaging 9.9 points per game and shooting a team-best 90.3% from the free-throw line, 44.6% from three, 4.2 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.

Purdue has only lost one game all season, and it was a one-point home loss to Rutgers. Purdue has won games, but they have been close, especially in conference play. Purdue is 5-0 on the road in conference play, but they needed overtime to beat Nebraska, won by two at Ohio State, and won by one at Michigan State. Their only two road wins that were blowouts were against Penn State and Minnesota.

For the Wolverines, whose expectations are always high, the season has been up and down. Six of Michigan's 11 non-conference games have been victories. The Wolverines have lost three of their last five games after starting the Big Ten season 3-0. However, each one of their conference losses has come on the road. They have lost at Michigan State, Iowa, and Maryland but are 4-0 at home in conference play.

Michigan faces a tough test against Purdue, but they have the size to disrupt them. Michigan's 7-foot-1 big man Hunter Dickinson, who averages 18.1 points and 8.9 rebounds, will play Zach Edey. Jett Howard, a 6'8 freshman who is the son of head coach Juwan Howard, is second on the team with 14.6 points per game. Dickinson guarded Edey in the home game last season and held him to just 10 points, and I expect him to do the same tonight.

Michigan is one of the biggest teams in the country, and they match up well against Purdue'z size. If you can take Edey out of the mix, beating Purdue becomes much easier. Michigan has had a lot of success against Purdue because of this, especially at home. Michigan is 9-0-1 ATS against Purdue in the last ten meetings, including 4-0 ATS at home. Hunter Dickinson will give Edey the most challenging test he has seen all season, and the home crowd will be rocking to knock off the now #1-ranked team in the nation. The Wolverines beat them last year when they were ranked, and I believe they can do it at home again, where they are undefeated this season in conference play. Purdue may win the matchup, but 5.5 points are too many.

Michigan vs. Purdue Pick

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