Time is running out for the Ohio State Buckeyes (17-11) to help their cause for an NCAA Tournament bid.
Following road defeats to Michigan State (66-60) and Iowa (74-57), the Buckeyes look to rebound against the eighth-ranked Purdue Boilermakers (22-6). The Boilermakers have dropped two of their last three, capped off by a 76-74 home defeat to Michigan State on Thursday.
Let’s look at a Purdue vs. Ohio State prediction and picks for Sunday’s showdown at Value City Arena in Columbus, tipping off at 1:30 p.m. ET on CBS. Make your CBB picks on PrizePicks and PrizePicks Team Picks and earn real money if you’re right, including on game winners, spreads, and totals!
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Purdue vs. Ohio State Prediction, Spread, Over/Under
The Buckeyes shocked the Boilermakers in West Lafayette last season, 73-70, as 10-point underdogs.
OSU won the past two matchups against Purdue in the underdog role. The last time the Boilermakers beat the Buckeyes was in the 2023 Big Ten tournament semifinals, 80-66.
Purdue defeated Ohio State three times that season, including an 82-55 home blowout.
Purdue vs. Ohio State Spread, Over/Under
The Boilermakers enter this matchup as 5.5-point favorites, returning a 1.31x payout on PrizePicks Team Picks if they win outright.
The Buckeyes are home underdogs with a 3.03x payout if they win, where you can earn money with your picks in 34 states.
- Spread: Purdue Boilermakers -5.5
- Over/Under: 150.5
- Game Winner Payout: Purdue 1.31x | Ohio State 3.03x
Team Picks data is live as of writing and is subject to change.
Purdue vs. Ohio State Prediction on Spread
Here are some key stats to know before locking in your Purdue vs. Ohio State prediction on spread for Sunday, March 1 on PrizePicks.
- Since January 7, Purdue owns a dreadful 4-10 against the spread (ATS) mark.
- The Buckeyes cashed in three straight games before falling to Iowa, 74-57, on Wednesday.
- Ohio State has suffered back-to-back losses for the first time this season. The Buckeyes were 9-0 off a defeat coming into the Iowa game.
- The Buckeyes have done a solid job defending the 3-pointer of late, limiting their last five opponents to 28-of-94 (29.7%) from deep.
- Purdue ranks second in conference play in 3-point shooting at 37.3%, hitting at least 10 shots from deep in four of the previous five outings.
- OSU is 3-5 ATS as a Big Ten underdog, including home losses to Michigan and Illinois.
- The Boilermakers sit 13th in defensive 2-point percentage (55.8%) and 14th in defensive 3-point percentage (35.5%) in conference play.
- Six times off a loss, the Buckeyes have shot at least 60% on effective field goal percentage.
Purdue vs. Ohio State Picks for PrizePicks Today: 3/1/26
Here are three top Purdue vs. Ohio State picks to target on Sunday. Key PrizePicks player projections are headlined by three players: Ohio State G Bruce Thornton, Purdue G Fletcher Loyer, and Buckeyes F Devin Royal.
Ohio State G Bruce Thornton vs. Purdue Projection: 20.5 Points
- The rare college basketball senior to spend his entire career with one team leads OSU with an average of 20.0 points per game (PPG).
- In four of the last six home conference games, the Georgia native has topped the 21-point mark.
- In last season’s victory at Purdue, Thornton scored 11 points on 3-of-7 shooting. His career high against the Boilermakers is 22 points in his sophomore season.
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Purdue G Fletcher Loyer vs. Ohio State Projection: 13.5 Points
- Another four-year senior with the same squad, Loyer sits at 13.4 PPG after posting 13.8 PPG in his junior campaign.
- Loyer has notched at least a dozen points in five of his last seven games.
- His best road performance of the season came in a 29-point effort at Maryland on February 1.
- Since hitting 4-of-17 shots from deep against Nebraska on February 10, Loyer connected on 10-of-19 3-point attempts in the last four outings.
Ohio State F Devin Royal vs. Purdue Projection: 19.5 Pts + Rebs
- The junior averages 14.1 PPG along with pulling down 5.5 rebounds per contest.
- Royal eclipsed this projection in three of the past five games. He dominated Wisconsin with 25 points and 5 rebounds in a home win on February 17.
- Purdue has outrebounded its opponents in five straight road games, but Royal averages 5.7 rebounds in his past seven home contests.
- In last season’s upset of the Boilermakers, Royal posted 16 points and 6 rebounds, including going 8-of-10 from the free throw line.
Make #8 Purdue vs. Ohio State Picks on PrizePicks
The Buckeyes are on the tournament bubble heading into March. Can OSU pull off another upset of Purdue, or will the Boilermakers stay hot on the road?
You can make your Purdue vs. Ohio State picks on PrizePicks and PrizePicks Team Picks to earn real money. Just pick players, predict More or Less on their projected stats, and cash in if you’re correct. With Team Picks, make predictions on winners, spreads, and over/unders, now available in 34 states.
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