#17 Texas A&M vs #11 Purdue: NCAA Basketball Predictions, Odds & Best Bets (12/14)

There is a Top 20 Showdown in Indiana in the Indy Classic as the Texas A&M Aggies take on the Purdue Boilermakers. Both teams come into this game ranked in the Top 20, and Buzz Williams and Matt Painter know how much this game means to their team. A win today will be huge on a tournament resume in March.

The Aggies have now won four straight games following their loss to Oregon, beating #21 Creighton and Texas Tech in the process. They are a battle tested team, with 7 games against Top 100 opponents this year, with a 5-2 record in those games. The Aggies have a couple easy games following this one before SEC play begins, so I’m sure their full focus will be on the task at hand.

Things are not the same for Purdue. The Boilermakers are coming off a tough home win against Maryland, and they also had their fair share of testing themselves early. Purdue has 7 games against teams in the Top 100, with that same 5-2 record in those contests. However, they play a tough matchup against #2 Auburn next week, so they may be worrying about the Tigers up ahead.

Will they come focused and beat the Aggies? Or will Texas A&M take down the national runner ups?

#17 Texas A&M Aggies vs #11 Purdue Boilermakers: Indy Classic

Matchup Information – Texas A&M vs Purdue

• Venue & Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, IN)
• Date: Saturday, December 14th, 2024
• Tip Off: 12:00pm Eastern
• Broadcast: CBS

Betting Odds

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Spread

• Texas A&M +2 (-110)
• Purdue -2 (-110)

Money Line

• Not Listed at time of writing

Total

• Over 142 (-110)
• Under 142 (-110)

Who Will Be Victorious in the Indy Classic?

Purdue will always be a tough ball club. They are led by veteran guards who have plenty of experience running this offense, and Matt Painter has found himself another 7 footer to play the big man. But I do not think this team is as good as they were last year, especially on the defensive side, and they have shown early struggles away from home.

Both of their losses were in away games this season, and they did win both contests on a neutral site. However, they play very slow offense, shoot the three very well, but rank north of 200 in 3P Rate and don’t force many turnovers. They basically live at the free throw line, but this Aggies defense is good at keeping their hands to themselves, and offensively they are also Top 40 in FT Rate.

The Aggies also play slow, but are fine speeding things up. Defense is where it’s at for them, ranking 8th in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency, 31st in eFG Defense, and Top 70 in TO Rate. They defend the perimeter incredibly well, and will certainly test Purdue on the glass, as the Aggies are the best offensive rebounding team in the country. The Aggies have four straight wins over Top 100 teams, and are 3-1 in neutral site games this season.

#17 Texas A&M vs #11 Purdue Best Bets

Texas A&M vs Purdue Prediction: Texas A&M Wins, Under

Best Bets: Texas A&M +2 (-110) BetOnline

I’ll be backing the Aggies early on Saturday. I think their defense is much better than the Boilermakers, and I trust their offense if this thing turns into a shootout (which it won’t). Hand up, I took the ML at even money. There may be a better number out there, as I jumped the gun expecting A&M to be favored, but for even money I am certainly willing to back a hard nosed Aggies basketball team and I love them catching a couple points.

Like I said, they aren’t looking ahead with two tune up games on the horizon, and I think they are physically tougher than this Boilermakers team. Marquette is the best defensive team Purdue has played this year, and they were held to 58 points in that game. Purdue’s eFG% drops over 3% away from Mackey Arena, and I think their offense is in for a rude awakening against a Top 10 Aggies defense.

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