5:30 p.m. ET Indiana (-3½) at Northwestern O/U: 138½
| Teams | Spread | Money Line | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | -3½ (-106) | -167 | O 138½ (-110) |
| Northwestern | +3½ (-114) | +147 | U 138½ (-110) |
The 10-8 Hoosiers travel to Evanston, Illinois to take on the 6-10 Wildcats on Wednesday night. Indiana is fresh off an upset win over Iowa at home on Sunday. Northwestern lost most recently on Saturday to Purdue, 75-70. These two met back on Dec. 23 in Bloomington, Indiana, where Northwestern prevailed 74-67. Northwestern followed that game by beating Ohio State, which launched them up to No. 18 in the Associated Press top 25 poll and increased expectations for a highly successful season. Since then, those high hopes have come crashing down in the harshest way. The Wildcats have dropped nine games in a row. For Indiana, this game is a must win because they are sitting firmly on the bubble of the NCAA tournament and a loss to a team on a nine-game skid and currently sitting at 13th in the Big Ten standings could be devastating to those chances.
Indiana is led by Trayce Jackson-Davis, who averages a team-high 19.9 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. Davis has scored double figures in every game this season, including 22 points in the first matchup against the Wildcats. Northwestern is led by forward Miller Kopp averaging 13.2 points per game. Kopp had 13 in the first matchup, as Northwestern placed four players in double figures to lead them to the upset win in the contest they entered as nine-point underdogs.
This game looks simple enough at first glance Indiana has had more success this season so they should cover the short spread. But it deserves a closer look. Wildcats coach Chris Collins has had Hoosiers coach Archie Miller’s number since Miller came to Indiana, going 3-3 straight up and 5-1 against the spread. Plus the Wildcats may have lost nine games in a row, but they have shown signs of progress in their last three, losing each by single digits.
