TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASKETBALL SELECTION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND
#748 PURDUE (-14′) over Rutgers at 7 PM EST
Entering off their third straight up loss of the season and with a trip to Ann Arbor on deck, the Boilermakers will return to the friendly confines of Mackey Arena and smash the visiting Scarlet Knights. Rutgers makes the journey to West Lafayette off an 11-point loss in the Twin Cities to Minnesota and this will be another challenging sport for head coach Steve Pikiell and his crew.
The history in this series is certainly noted. Purdue owns a 6-5 SU and 1-10 ATS record in the last 11 meetings. Fortunately, in their own backyard arriving without confidence off a straight up loss and now matched up against a foe that holds a team won/loss percentage greater than .555, the Boilers hold a reliable 31-5 SU and 22-12 ATS mark including a profitable 20-2 SU and 15-5 ATS provided they are not running with revenge of any kind. Also, at home storming the court off a pointspread loss, PU holds a solid 61-5 SU and 37-19-1 ATS tally provided its opponent played on the road in their last game. In this situation fighting a foe that owns four or more days of rest, head coach Matt Painter and his troops improve to an elite 40-1 SU and 25-10 ATS.
On a soft 17-19 SU and 15-21 ATS run in their last 36 games, the Knights are nothing more than an average basketball team right now. True road games have been an issue for Coach Pikiell’s troops, too. As a guest, Rutgers holds a soft 11-22 SU and 13-20 ATS record in its last 33 games including a poor 4-11 SU and ATS if the Scarlet Knights are lined up against a foe that enters off a straight up loss. Additionally, as a double-digit conference road underdog locked into a revenge mode, the Knights hold a feeble 0-74 SU and 24-48-2 ATS tally including a ridiculous 0-53 SU and 15-36-2 ATS in this situation provided they arrive off a straight up loss.
If you want to beat the Boilermakers, then you’ll need to put some points on the board. The Knights average only 66.9 points per game, and they’ll have trouble keeping pace matched up against a PU attack that tickles the twine for an average of 84.4 points per game. Take Purdue. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
MICK’S 100% (10-0 ATS) 5* CBB CONFERENCE GAME OF THE YEAR
The TSPC got back on track with Lee’s huge win on Drake last night and returns with a Pot ‘o Gold release from Mick that will get the job done. Outstanding home versus road dichotomy supports this selection along with one golden 10-0 ATS angle. Grab Mick’s 5* CBB Conference Game of the Year for $30.