Purdue vs Iowa Odds and Picks
- Iowa Hawkeyes look to snap a four-game SU and ATS losing streak vs Purdue when they host the Boilermakers on Tuesday as betting favorites
- Hawkeyes are coming off a 99-88 loss to top-ranked Gonzaga, while Purdue vies for a fourth straight victory
- We’ve got you covered with the odds and trends ahead of Tuesday night’s Big ten conference matchup at Carver-Hawkeye Arena
The Iowa Hawkeyes will try to rebound from this past weekend’s disappointing 99-88 loss to top-ranked Gonzaga when they return home on Tuesday night to open their conference schedule against the Purdue Boilermakers as 8.5-point favorites. The loss to the Zags as 4.5-point underdogs marks Iowa’s first defeat after opening the campaign six straight wins on home court. The Boilermakers travel to Iowa riding a three-game SU win streak after knocking off Notre Dame 88-78 over the weekend.
Here’s a look at the odds and trends ahead of Tuesday night’s Big Ten conference matchup at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Purdue Boilermakers vs Iowa Hawkeyes Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purdue Boilermakers | +8.5 (-115) | +310 | O 156.5 (-108) |
| Iowa Hawkeyes | -8.5 (-105) | -400 | U 156.5 (-112) |
Odds taken at FanDuel on Dec. 21, 2020.
Iowa’s Offense Tops in the Nation
The highest scoring team in the nation so far this season, averaging 98.7 points per game, the Hawkeyes were unable to keep pace with Gonzaga in Saturday’s meeting on neutral hardwood at the Sanford Pentagon. The Bulldogs’ 99 points are the most that Iowa has given up since suffering a 103-91 loss to Michigan in December of last year, and contributed to another payout for the OVER, which has now prevailed in each of Iowa’s first seven outings.
🚨 New AP Poll! 🚨
1. Gonzaga
2. Baylor
3. Kansas
4. Iowa
5. Villanova
6. Houston
7. West Virginia
8. Tennessee
9. Wisconsin
10. Texas— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) December 21, 2020
Despite Saturday’s loss, there is lots to like about the Iowa offense. Luke Garza continues to be an offensive force. The senior big man recorded 30 points and 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season in a losing effort against Gonzaga, and remains tops in the nation with 29.3 points per game. In addition, junior guard Joe Wieskamp has tallied 20 points in each of the past two games, and nine rebounds in two of his past four outings.
“BuT LuKa GaRzA hAsN’t PlAyEd AnYbOdy.”
30 PTS
13-18 FG
10 REB
3 BLK…against the top-ranked team in the country and one of the best bigs in the nation.@LukaG_55 | #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/ByzjkhLRCO
— Iowa Men’s Basketball (@IowaHoops) December 19, 2020
However, the Hawkeyes have seen their field goal percentage steadily decline since recording crushing wins over lightweight opponents in their first thee outings, topping 50% just once in their past four contests. Slow start have also been a concern for Iowa, which dipped to No. 4 in the AP Top 25 rankings in the wake of this past weekend’s loss. The squad scored just two points during a dismal six-minute stretch late in the first half of Saturday’s loss to Gonzaga, and was slow out of the gate before finding a high gear in last week’s 106-53 rout of Northern Illinois.
🎥 Instant highlights of Purdue’s 77-68 win over No. 18 Iowa. pic.twitter.com/6iGl0sX3sX
— Purdue Men's Basketball (@BoilerBall) March 4, 2020
Perhaps of greater concern is the Hawkeyes’ continued shaky play against Purdue. Iowa has dropped four straight to the Boilermakers, both SU and ATS, capped by a 77-68 home loss as 5-point chalk. While the OVER has paid out in each of their past three meetings, Iowa has struggled to run up the score against Purdue. The Boilermakers have limited Iowa to just 67 points per game over their four recent victories, and have limited the Hawkeyes to 70 or fewer points in 18 of 22 meetings since 2007.
Can Purdue Extend Recent Domination of Hawkeyes?
The Boilermakers are also coming off a solid offensive performance against Notre Dame after struggling at times in recent outings. The team has received a big lift from the return of Eric Hunter Jr. The junior guard was expected to miss up to eight weeks after suffering a broken tibia that required surgery during an early November scrimmage.
Mason Gillis on Eric Hunter Jr.:
"I would say that everybody on the team agrees he's our leader…He's the perfect point guard for us right now."
Hunter Jr. posted 18 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 steals in #Purdue's 88-78 win over Notre Dame in the Crossroads Classic. pic.twitter.com/qoJ6MPa7Ot
— Andrew Pogar (@AndrewPogar) December 19, 2020
Hunter has made a speedy recovery, and is making his presence felt in his unexpected return. The 21-year-old turned in a season-best 18-point, eight-assist performance against the Fight Irish, and also played a key role in the team’s victory over Iowa last March, potting a team-high 19 points. But while the return of Hunter will be key to the Boilermakers’ chancing of rebounding after going 9-10 in conference play last season, expecting them to extend their win streak against the current version of the Hawkeyes may be too much to ask.
The Picks: Purdue +8.5 (-105); UNDER 156.5 (-112)
Daniel has been writing about sports and sports betting for over 23 years. The seasoned pro has contributed to the likes of Sports Illustrated, Sportsnet, NESN, Bleacher Report, OddsShark, the Globe and Mail, and The Nation magazine.
