College Basketball Expert Picks – #11 Purdue to Hand #3 Ohio State Second Loss

The #11 Purdue Boilermakers figure to hand the #3 Ohio State Buckeyes their second loss of the season on Sunday, Feb. 20th. In fact, betting on Purdue is one of my college basketball expert picks for Sunday.

The Boilermakers have turned it on recently both straight up and against the spread. Not only that, but Purdue boasts a college hoops player of the year candidate in JuJuan Johnson who is averaging 20.8 points and 7.8 boards per game while shooting 50% from the field. JJ will attempt to put another “L” onto the really good Buckeyes on Feb. 20th.

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#3 Ohio State Buckeyes (25-1) vs. #11 Purdue Boilermakers (21-5)

** Records and state not counting Thursday and Friday games.

Where: Mackey Arena, West Lafayette, Indiana

When: Feb. 20th, 2010 at 1:00 pm EST

TV: CBS

Likely NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

Ohio State Buckeyes +2 ½ O 135

Purdue Boilermakers -2 ½ U 135

Check out some trends for this game.

• The Ohio State Buckeyes are 1 and 4 ATS in their last 5 games.
• The Ohio State Buckeyes are 5 and 4 ATS in their away games this season.
• The Purdue Boilermakers are 9 and 2 ATS at home this season.
• The Purdue Boilermakers are 4 and 1 ATS in their last 5 games.

Here’s the thing. If the Buckeyes are favored in this game on Sunday, then it makes sense to bet Purdue on the NCAAB moneyline. If, though, as I suspect, the Boilermakers are favored on Sunday, then it makes sense to back Purdue against the spread. Purdue is one of my best college basketball expert picks for the entire weekend. It’s just a question as to how to bet on the Boilers.

Ohio State bounced back versus Michigan State after their lone loss of the season to Wisconsin by beating the Spartans 71 to 61. The victory wasn’t easy for the Buckeyes, however, as MSU was down by only 1 point, 34 to 35, to the Buckeyes at halftime. The game was yet another non-cover for the Buckeyes who are 4 and 6 against the spread in their last 10 games.

Purdue, by contrast, has turned things around since a 59 to 66 loss to Wisconsin on Feb. 2nd. The Boilermakers have won 3 games in a row straight up and against the spread. They beat Indiana 67 to 53 as -13 ½ point faves, Illinois 81 to 70 as -2 ½ point faves, and then they exacted revenge on the Badgers in a 70 to 82 victory as -4 ½ point home favorites in their last game.

Now, the Boilermakers are in position to exact revenge on the Ohio State Buckeyes whose youth might be catching up with them.

Purdue’s top 2 players, the aforementioned Johnson and guard E’Twaun Moore, who averages 18 points, close to 6 boards and 3 assists per game, should be able to do some damage to the young Buckeyes who have covered only one spread since putting a beat down on the Boilermakers, 87 to 64, on January 25th.

With so many things going Purdue’s way lately, the Boilermakers are an easy addition to my college basketball expert picks list for Sunday. Purdue should cover the spread, no matter if they’re favored or the dog.

It’s not a question of backing Purdue; it’s a question of how to back the Boilermakers on Sunday, February 20th.

NCAA Basketball Odds Betting Pick: Purdue Boilermakers moneyline or ATS

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