Purdue favored to obliterate Gophers in Big Ten battle

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.

Encouraging update after Dawson Garcia's painful 'shot to the groin'