Xavier vs Purdue Prediction & Picks: Edey, Boilermakers to be Too Much for the Musketeers?

Tonight's Michigan-St. John's matchup at Madison Square Garden isn't the only Big East-Big Ten showdown on today's college basketball schedule, but it is expected to be significantly more competitive than the contest between Xavier and Purdue (8:30 pm ET, FS1).

Last season, this would have been a high-profile contest. But in addition to losing Colby Jones, Souley Boum, Jack Nunge, and Adam Kunkel from last year's 27-win Sweet Sixteen squad, Sean Miller is having to navigate at least a portion of this season without Zach Freemantle (left foot surgery in September) and Jerome Hunter (undisclosed medical issue).

Without Freemantle and Hunter, the Musketeers are off to a 2-0 start this season, with wins over Robert Morris and Jacksonville. But the Boilermakers and Wooden Award favorite Zach Edey, who have begun their quest for success with routs of Samford and Morehead State, are just a bit of a step up, to put it mildly.

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Oddsmakers aren't giving Xavier much of a chance to be competitive, which is understandable given the talent deficit the Musketeers are working with at the moment.

But few would have given Weber State, a 16.5-point underdog, a chance last night at Saint Mary's, and all the Wildcats did was overcome a 16-point deficit in the second half to score one of the biggest upsets you will likely see in college basketball this season.

So, never say never, especially in November.

Xavier vs Purdue Odds

Odds are courtesy of Bovada.

Spread

• Xavier +18 (-115)
• Purdue -18 (-105)

Over/Under

• Over 150.5 (-105)
• Under 150.5 (-115)

Moneyline

• Xavier +1100
• Purdue -2800

Xavier vs Purdue Prediction and Picks

Prediction: Purdue to win

Picks: Xavier +18 (-115 at Bovada) & Xavier team total over 65.5 points (-125 at Bovada)

Yes, Xavier is in a tough position here, going on the road to face the #2 team in the country with a squad lacking its two most important pieces.

But 18 points is a lot, even in this situation, and not just because the other team involved is a team that I don't particularly have a great deal of trust in. These kinds of games can be pretty tricky, because after all, the Boilermakers don't really know what they're going up against.

The big question for the Musketeers is whether or not they will be able to generate enough on the offensive end to be competitive.

Sophomore guard Desmond Claude will need to shoot better than he did against Jacksonville (5 of 13 FG, 1 of 4 3PT), and Rice transfer Quincy Olivari, who was only 2 of 8 from three against JU, will need to do the same.

I think Xavier can cobble together enough offense and put in a decent enough effort on defense to keep this one respectable. Will they put a real scare into Purdue? I won't go that far, but I said the same thing about Weber State yesterday.

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