Bob Donnan SUSA Icon Sport
The NCAA tournament is right around the corner and the last couple of weeks of the regular season will have a major impact on how the teams will end their season.
There are plenty of games scheduled for Sunday and we put up our game breakdowns and college basketball betting trends for four of the most interesting games of the night.
Purdue is one of the top favorites to go all the way this season, and after a recent loss, they will go in full speed against Michigan. Both Ohio State and Michigan State lost their last games and will try to bounce back today. Marquette is one of the dark horse candidates to go all the way this season, and they will look for another win when they host Xavier. Minnesota and Nebraska are currently on winning streaks, and one of them will get snapped today.
Let’s take a deeper look at the college basketball betting trends for these four games.
Purdue vs Michigan
The Purdue Boilermakers are on top of the Big Ten Conference with a 24-3 record for the season and 13-3 in conference play. After losing to Ohio State, they won 96-68 against Rutgers in the last one. Zach Edey had another impressive performance with 25 points and 7 rebounds. He is second in the country, averaging 23.3 points and third with 11.7 rebounds per game. Purdue is ranked second in the nation shooting 40.6% from three-point territory and seventh scoring 84.9 points per game.
The Michigan Wolverines are at the bottom of the Big Ten Conference with an 8-19 record for the season and 3-13 in conference play. Michigan has only two wins in 2024, is currently on a four-game losing streak, and is coming off a 76-62 loss to Northwestern. Nimari Burnett scored 15 points in that one. Dug McDaniel leads the Wolverines, averaging 16.6 points per game. Michigan is 39th in the nation in shooting 36.9% from three-point territory and 154th in scoring 74.7 points per game.
Purdue vs Michigan: College basketball betting trends
Purdue is 15-10-2 ATS for the season, 7-6-1 ATS at home and 12-9-2 ATS after a win. Michigan is 7-20-0 ATS for the season, 2-7-0 ATS on the road and 4-14-0 ATS after a loss
Prediction and Conclusion
These Big Ten Conference rivals have completely different seasons. Purdue is ranked third in the nation, while Michigan is locked at the bottom of the conference. The Boilermakers are at perfect 14-0 at home, and there is no question they will add another one tonight. They are a 13.5-point favorite against the Wolverines, who are only 2-7 on the road for the season. Michigan will have no chance of slowing down Zach Edey, and the center will lead Purdue to a comfortable win, covering the spread.
Ohio State vs Michigan State
The Ohio State Buckeyes are 13th in the Big Ten conference with a 15-12 record for the season but only 5-11 in conference play. After losing five straight games, the Buckeyes have split the last four games and are coming off an 88-79 win over Minnesota. Bruce Thornton had 25 points and 6 assists in that one. The sophomore guard leads the Buckeyes this season, averaging 16.4 points and 4.3 assists per game. Ohio State is 26th in the nation in shooting 76.6% from the free throw line and 158th scoring 74.6 points per game.
The Michigan State Spartans are sixth in the Big Ten Conference with a 17-10 record, including 9-7 in conference play. After winning three consecutive games, the Spartans lost 78-71 to Iowa in the last one. Malik Hall had his best game of the season with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists. Tyson Walker leads Michigan State, averaging 18.3 points per game. The Spartans are 29th in the nation in scoring 37.1% from the three-point line and 44th in shooting 47.4% from the field.
Ohio State vs Michigan State: College basketball betting trends
Ohio State has gone over the total point line in 15 of 27 games this season, in 9 of 15 home games and in 10 of 15 games following a win. Michigan State has done so in 12 of 27 games this season, in 5 of 9 games on the road and in 3 of 9 games following a loss.
Prediction and Conclusion
It is uncommon to see Ohio State and Michigan State at the bottom of the Big Ten Conference, and there is not much room to change that by the end of the season. Both teams have picked up their game lately, but it is pretty unlikely that it will make any difference. Neither team has anything to lose in this game, and with the total point line being set quite low at 138 points, this game will most likely go over it.
Xavier vs Marquette
The Xavier Musketeers are seventh in the Big East Conference with a 13-13 record for the season and 7-8 in conference play. They started the month of February with three consecutive wins, but then went on to lose the next three. Xavier is coming off a 79-75 loss against Providence, with Desmond Claude scoring 22 points. Quincy Olivari leads the team with 19.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. The Musketeers are 124th in the nation, scoring 75.7 points per game, and 152nd in shooting, with 34.5% shooting from behind the arc.
The Marquette Golden Eagles are second in the Big East Conference with a 20-6 record for the season and 11-4 in conference play. They have won nine of the last 10 games and are coming off a 105-71 win over DePaul. Kam Jones scored a season-high 34 points, while Tyler Kolek had an impressive 18 assists. He leads the Golden Eagles with 15.2 points and 7.6 assists per game for the season. Marquette is 27th in the nation, shooting 47.1% from the field, and 58th with 78.8 points per game.
Xavier vs Marquette: College basketball betting trends
Xavier is 14-12-0 ATS for the season, 5-3-0 ATS on the road, and 6-6-0 ATS after a loss. Marquette is 15-10-1 ATS for the season, 9-4-0 ATS at home, and 10-8-1 following a win.
Prediction and Conclusion
Marquette has a great team this year, and whoever runs into them in the NCAA tournament will have a huge problem. They have only one home loss in 13 games this season, and looking at the schedule, they will probably finish the season in perfect fashion. Xavier is in the middle of the conference, and every game is very important for them. However, the Golden Eagles are in excellent form and will be dominant in this game. Both teams play tough defenses, which may keep this game under the total point line, but the safest pick is going for Marquette to cover the -10.5-point spread.
Minnesota vs Nebraska
The Minnesota Golden Gophers are seventh in the Big Ten Conference with a 17-9 record and 8-7 in conference play. The Gophers have won 5 of the last 7 games and are coming off back-to-back wins over Rutgers and Ohio State. Elijah Hawkins scored 24 points and 7 assists in the 88-79 win over the Buckeyes. Dawson Garcia leads Minnesota with 17.7 points and 6.6 assists per game. The Golden Gophers are 37th in the nation, shooting 47.6% from the field, and fifth with 18.4 assists per game.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers are fifth in the Big Ten Conference with a 19-8 record for the season and 9-7 in conference play. They have won the last three games and are coming off an 85-70 win over Indiana. Keisei Tominaga led the team with 20 points. The Japanese are the best players on the Cornhuskers this season, averaging 14.4 points per game. Nebraska is 25th in the nation with 9.4 made three-pointers per game and 42nd in shooting 75.7% from the free throw line.
Minnesota vs Nebraska: College basketball betting trends
Minnesota is 23-3-0 ATS for the season, 6-1-0 ATS on the road and 14-2-0 ATS following a win. Nebraska is 17-10-0 ATS for the season, 13-4-0 ATS at home and 11-7-0 following a win.
Prediction and Conclusion
Both teams are trying to catch up with the top teams in the Big Ten Conference, and this game will look like we are already in the NCAA tournament. Minnesota won the first game against Nebraska this season 76-65 and has won the last two after the Cornhuskers won the previous four. Nebraska is outstanding at home this season with a 16-1 record, and the Golden Gophers will have a tough time in Pinnacle Bank Arena. Nebraska is a 6.5-point favorite in this game, which is pretty high. Minnesota has covered the spread in 23 of 26 games so far in the season, which puts them on top of the nation, and the Golden Gophers will do that once again against Nebraska.
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