Purdue favored to obliterate Gophers in Big Ten battle

Gophers, Boilermakers meet inside Mackey Arena Thursday night

The line on Thursday night's Big Ten men's basketball game favors Purdue by 16.5 points over the Minnesota Gophers. 

Purdue, ranked No. 2 in the nation, is nearly unbeatable on their home court, where they'll be when the game tips off at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Minnesota has been the underdog 11 times this season and while they've failed to cover the spread just three times their record in those games is 4-7. 

• Missouri: 2.5-point underdog and lost by 2
• San Francisco: 4.5-point underdog and lost by 18
• Ohio State: 12.5-point underdog and lost by 10
• Nebraska: 2.5-point underdog and won by 11
• Michigan: 5.5-point underdog and won by 2
• Indiana: 4.5-point underdog and lost by 12
• Michigan State: 12.5-point underdog and lost by 10
• Wisconsin: 2.5-point underdog and lost by 2
• Northwestern: 1.5-point underdog and won by 9
• Michigan State: 3.5-point underdog and won by 3
• Iowa: 7-point underdog and lost by 5

Purdue has won 18 consecutive games at Mackey Arena. The last time they lost a home game was Feb. 25, 2023 against Indiana. This season, they're 17-0 at home, with victims including the likes of Xavier, Gonzaga, Tennessee, Marquette, Iowa, Alabama, Arizona, Illinois, Penn State, Michigan, Northwestern and Indiana. 

The Boilermakers have been favored by at least 16.5 points nine times this season and they've covered the spread six times – and it should be noted that the three times they failed to cover they still won. 

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Minnesota Gophers forward Dawson Garica (3) attempts to score a layup during the NCAA men s basketball game against the Purdue Boilermakers, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind :: © Noe Padilla/Journal & Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK