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Purdue (12-1) vs Wisconsin (9-4)
- When: Jan 3 2026, 8:00 PM
- Where: Kohl Center, Madison, WI, USA
- Where to watch: FOX
(5) Purdue vs Wisconsin Preview & Prediction
Spread: Purdue -6.5
Moneyline: Purdue (-250)
Total: 151.0
Odds and Game Setup
Purdue enters Madison as a 6.5 point favorite with the total sitting at 151.0. Translation: sportsbooks expect buckets, stress eating, and at least one Badgers fan loudly questioning defensive rotations by the second media timeout.
Wisconsin Badgers Breakdown
Wisconsin spent November and December playing Quad 1 teams the way people touch hot stoves. Once was bad. Four times was educational. Losses to BYU, TCU, Nebraska, and Villanova left the Badgers bruised, humbled, and very familiar with airport terminals.
The silver lining is that none of those games were in Madison, where Wisconsin magically transforms into a disciplined, annoying, shot clock draining menace. Greg Gard has seen progress lately, mostly because holding teams to 60 points feels like finding loose change in the couch. The defense is not elite yet, but it is no longer actively leaking oil.
Offensively, Wisconsin has a trio capable of keeping things interesting. Nick Boyd brings shot creation. John Blackwell provides scoring punch. Nolan Winter crashes the glass like it personally offended him. The issue is consistency. Wisconsin can look organized for six minutes, then forget how to box out for the next four. Against Purdue, that kind of lapse usually turns into a twelve point run and a very loud opposing bench.
Still, Wisconsin has beaten Purdue twice in a row, which gives them confidence and Purdue fans mild flashbacks.
Purdue Boilermakers Breakdown
Purdue arrives with an offense that runs smoother than a new pickup truck. Everything flows through Braden Smith, who treats assists like loyalty points and hands them out freely. If you are open, you are getting the ball. If you are not open, he will wait until you are.
The supporting cast is stacked. Trey Kaufman Renn lives around the rim. Fletcher Loyer punishes late closeouts. Oscar Cluff cleans up mistakes like a very large vacuum. Purdue does not force shots. They simply wait for defenses to blink, then take your lunch money.
Matt Painter is still worried about defense because coaches are never happy, but Purdue has enough firepower to survive minor breakdowns. The Boilermakers are comfortable in high scoring environments and do not panic when the game turns into a math problem.
Prediction
Wisconsin will compete, frustrate, and briefly convince the home crowd that this is happening again. Purdue will stay patient, win the possession battle, and pull away late with efficiency instead of flair.
Final Score: Purdue 78, Wisconsin 70
Lean: Purdue -6.5
Total: Under 151.0
- NCAAB Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
