Point Spread: On Saturday, Purdue hosts the record-setting Hoosiers as an underdog.
Indiana and Purdue are set to face each other for the second time this season at Mackey Arena on Saturday night, with the No. 2-ranked Boilermakers being substantial favorites. This marks the first time in over 15 years that the Hoosiers find themselves as significant underdogs. Here’s the latest information on the point spread, along with a detailed history of both teams’ performance against the spread.
In the upcoming nationally televised rivalry game at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, Purdue holds an imposing 18.5-point favorite status over the Hoosiers, according to the SISportsbook.com gambling website. The over/under for the game is set at 148.5.
This substantial point spread is notable, especially considering that, historically, Indiana has not faced such large odds during the three-year tenure of coach Mike Woodson. The most considerable point spread the Hoosiers encountered this season was a 14.5-point underdog status at Illinois, where they managed to cover in a close 72-64 loss, tying the game with 53 seconds remaining.
Comparatively, last year’s largest point spread for the underdog Hoosiers was at Purdue, where they were 10-point underdogs and won outright, led by Jalen Hood-Schifino’s impressive 35 points. However, the current 18.5-point underdog status against Purdue surpasses anything seen since a November 2018 game against No. 3 Duke when Indiana was a 15.5-point underdog. To find a larger spread, one must go back to the early years of Tom Crean’s rebuilding era, specifically a February 2009 game against Michigan State where they were 21.5-point underdogs.
Purdue’s dominance is reflected in their previous matchups this Big Ten season, where they were 18.5-point favorites against Penn State and 17.5-point favorites against Michigan, both at home. In their January clash in Bloomington, Purdue emerged as 9.5-point favorites and secured a decisive 21-point victory, marking their largest margin of victory at IU since 1934.
The Hoosiers’ recent performance has been unpredictable, losing at home as favorites against Penn State but winning as underdogs at Ohio State. Notably, they have outright won as underdogs four times in the Big Ten this season, showcasing resilience. The team is currently contending with injury concerns, with point guard Xavier Johnson ruled out and center Kel’el Ware dealing with a late-game injury from the Ohio State win.
The game is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET and will be televised on FOX. For more details on how to watch and an in-depth preview of the game, additional information can be found by clicking here.
