Larry's CBB 10* PERFECT STORM (9-2 s/Feb 8)
- Handicapper
- Larry Ness
- League
- NCAAB
- Competition
- Purdue vs Penn State
- Time
- 02/26/2021 07:00 PM
- Bet Type
- Point Spread
- Pick
-
Purdue +1 (-108)
(5D Reduced Juice)
- Outcome
- Win
- Analysis
- My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Purdue at 7:00 ET.
Purdue's Matt Painter is in his 16th season with the Boilermakers but his team was just 16-14 last season, coming off a four-year run of averaging 27.3 wins per season. The Boilermaker's opened a modest 7-5 this season but Purdue has won EIGHT of its last 11 games. Penn St was 21-10 last season but the Nittany Lions went through some turmoil right as practices started when head coach Pat Chambers resigned in late October following an investigation into inappropriate conduct. Penn State is playing this season with interim head coach Jim Ferry and the Nittany Lions welcome Purdue to State College with an 8-12 overall record (5-11 in the Big Ten).
The 6-10 Williams leads Purdue in scoring (16.0) and rebounding (9.1). He's supported by a well-balanced group of FIVE others who chip in between 8.0 and 9.8 PPG. The group includes guards Hunter (9.8 & 3.2 APG), Stefanovic (9.8), Newman (9.2) and Ivey (9.0 & 3.5) plus the 7-3 Edey (8.0 & 4.2). Penn St surely miss All-Big Ten forward Lamar Stevens (17.6 & 6.9) but the Nittany Lions have three players averaging in double figures; guards Jones (15.8) and Brockington (13.4 & 4.7) plus the 6-7 Seth Lundy (10.1 & 3.8). The 6-9 Harrar (9.0 & 8.8) plus guards Sessoms (8.3), Dreda (8.0) and Wheeler (6.1-4.3-3.5) round out the main contributors.
It's true that four of Penn St's five Big Ten wins have come at home but the Nittany Lions enter having just ended a four-game losing streak by winning 86-83 at Nebraska. Is that a 'buy' sign? Hardly, as the Cornhuskers are 5-17 overall, including 1-14 in the Big Ten. Meanwhile, Purdue has won EIGHT of 11 and is making a run at gaining at least a No. 4 seed in next month's NCAA Tournament. Penn St is making just 41.0% of its FG attempts (311th) and allows opponents to make 47.0% of their FG attempts (321st).
Good luck...Larry
