Opening Spread for Purdue vs. Notre Dame Released, Boilers Major Underdog Again
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — For a second straight week, Purdue has opened as a major underdog.
Notre Dame has opened as a hefty 26.5-point favorite for Saturday's game against Purdue, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The spread comes after Purdue dropped a 33-17 contest to USC, falling to 2-1 on the season. The Fighting Irish were defeated by Texas A&M 41-40, dropping to 0-2.
This marks the second straight week in which Purdue has been a massive underdog. Last week, the Boilermakers opened as 23.5-point underdogs to USC. The line eventually dropped to 20.5 in favor of the Trojans.
Clearly, Purdue's 1-11 record last year is still fresh in the minds of those in the betting world. Although the Boilers fell short in their Big Ten opener to USC, the game was much more competitive, with Purdue having multiple opportunities to pull off an upset.
Coach Barry Odom already had some motivation for his team after it suffered its first loss. This should add even more fuel to the fire as Purdue prepares for the road trip to South Bend this weekend.
Kickoff between Purdue and Notre Dame is set for 3:30 p.m. ET from Notre Dame Stadium. The game will air on NBC/Peacock.
Notre Dame had no trouble with Purdue last season
Another reason why Notre Dame might be such a heavy favorite entering Saturday's game is because of last year's result in West Lafayette. The Fighting Irish had no troubles with the Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium, posting a dominant 66-7 win.
Notre Dame has also won nine straight games in the series, with Purdue's last win coming on Sept. 29, 2007. Six of those victories for the Fighting Irish have been by 10 points or more.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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Dustin Schutte is the publisher of Purdue Boilermakers on SI and has spent more than a decade working in sports journalism. His career began in 2013, when he covered Big Ten football. He remained in that role for eight years before working at On SI to cover the Boilermakers. Dustin graduated from Manchester University in Indiana in 2010, where he played for the men's tennis team.
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