The Purdue Boilermakers continue to rise up the Top 25 with each passing victory amassed, but games like this one on Tuesday on the road against the Pittsburgh Panthers are certainly potential tripping points.
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HOW THE PURDUE BOILERMAKERS CAN COVER THE SPREAD
To Purdue's credit, it really hasn't struggled at all this season. Granted, the toughest team on the docket thus far has been Florida, but every game has featured a margin of victory of at least 15 points.
With Rapheal Davis likely not playing this week due to a knee injury, the Boilers are going to have to find more scoring from somewhere. Thus far early in the season, that hasn't been a problem with the schedule being so light, but against a traditionally hardnosed Pittsburgh defense waiting, there could be some problems.
There actually isn't a healthy guard in the lineup averaging more than 9.0 points per game, and that's proof that the ball is going to have to be worked down low to A.J. Hammons and Isaac Haas. Both of these men are excellent around the basket, though neither has any real range whatsoever.
However, if the Panthers are forced to keep a big lineup on the court, they could be in for some hassles against Haas and Hammons, and Purdue has to keep its bigs out there out of foul trouble and effective.
HOW THE PITTSBURGH PANTHERS CAN COVER THE SPREAD
Technically, the Panthers haven't played a game against much of anyone this year, but one only needs to look at that first half against Gonzaga to know that they aren't going to be intimidated in this game going against the ranked Boilermakers.
Gonzaga and Purdue in fact, aren't that dissimilar. Both use their bigs to control their offense, and both have guard play which could be classified as suspect, especially beyond the starting five.
The Panthers led that game with the Zags 37-35 at halftime before it was called due to unsafe playing conditions.
Michael Young and Jamel Artis were the two best players on this team a year ago, averaging 27 points and 13 boards per game combined, and this NCAAB season, they should be even stronger. Both of these men along with James Robinson can do it all, and they might quietly make up one of the best threesomes in the ACC this year.
If Young and Artis can overcome their size disadvantage against Purdue’s trees, Pittsburgh will be at a real advantage and can cover this spread.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
Neither one of these teams own a legit win yet, but for our money, Pittsburgh has proven that it can play with the big boys. This is the type of game where Young, Artis and Robinson are asked to take over, and with Davis out of the fold for Purdue, we have no doubt that they can do it.
The Panthers will parlay experience with home court advantage to grind out a win over a Top 25 foe for the first time this year.
Pittsburgh 70, Purdue 65
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