There are four games set for today, including a top ten showdown later this evening on FS1. Let’s take a look at the upcoming action.
#12 Purdue Boilermakers at Maryland Terrapins
Purdue will look to bounce back on the road against Maryland. The Terps have been a disaster in Buzz Williams first year with the program, winning only three games since Thanksgiving. Maryland has given up 85.3 points per game the last three games and have only scored more than 70 points twice in two of the last seven games. Heading up against the second ranked offense per KenPom, Maryland’s defense is going to be up for a challenge. And with Purdue’s defense being solid and Maryland’s offense ranked 139th, scoring for Maryland could be a challenge as well. Maryland is only 1-3 at home in league play and that mark won’t change for the better this afternoon.
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Pick: Purdue
Minnesota Golden Gophers at Penn State Nittany Lions
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Time/TV: 2:00 PM ET Peacock
Minnesota has lost the past six games and will look to end their skid against a Penn State program currently winless in the Big Ten. The Gophers have been competitive in all six losses, typically starting strong in the first half before fading down the stretch. That isn’t a huge surprise considering the thin Minnesota rotation, but this team has almost landed upsets against Wisconsin (twice), Ohio State and USC. They even entered the half with a lead against Nebraska and tied at Illinois. Penn State is 1-11 their last 12 games and has given up at least 84 points in five of the last six games. The Nittany Lions have the 243th best defense per KenPom, dead last out of all teams from power conferences. While there’s some question on if Minnesota can close out a game in the second half, until Penn State’s defense shows they can do basically anything it’s hard to pick them to win a game.
Pick: Minnesota
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#9 Illinois Fighting Illini at #5 Nebraska Cornhuskers
Illinois has won ten in a row and will look to make it 11 against Nebraska. The Cornhuskers finally lost their first game of the season this week with a three point loss at Michigan. They’ll look to bounce back now that they’re on the home court. Nebraska’s offense has been average the past couple weeks, but their defense has been lights out. When these two teams met earlier in the year Nebraska won by three at Illinois, holding the Illini to 34% from three. That was the last loss of the season for the Illini.
While Illinois has been rolling they’ve been playing most of their opponents the past couple of weeks somewhat close. The Illini’s offensive explosion has been key to their winning streak and that will be put on the test against a standout Cornhuskers defense. Nebraska has always been a tough out on their home floor and with their defense added into the mix and there’s a very strong chance the Illini’s winning streak will end today. The last ten games the Cornhuskers have only given up 62.3 points per game, a noticeable dip from the 81.8 points per game the Illini have averaged in their last ten.
Pick: Nebraska
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Iowa Hawkeyes at Oregon Ducks
The Hawkeyes will try to win their fourth game in a row tonight at Oregon. Tonight’s game starts a two game road trip out west, with a game at Washington later on Wednesday. Iowa knocked off USC by a point earlier in the week and enters at 15-5 (5-4). Oregon has lost their last seven games and is 1-9 in conference play. The Ducks also haven’t scored more than 57 points in any of the last three games. Oregon’s offensive inability isn’t a huge surprise with Jackson Shelstad and Nate Bittle out with injuries, but going up against a top 20 Iowa defense doesn’t inspire confidence that they’ll find their offensive flow tonight. Iowa’s defense should be more than enough to carry them today.
Pick: Iowa
