Purdue Boilermakers vs Nebraska Cornhuskers Picks and Prediction for Friday March 13 2026
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The Purdue Boilermakers face the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinal on Friday, March 13, 2026, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 PM ET with television coverage on BTN. Purdue enters the matchup as a 3.5-point favorite with the total listed at 142.5. Be sure to check out our free college basketball picks for more daily predictions and betting insights.
Purdue Rolling into Quarterfinal with Offensive Efficiency
Purdue enters the Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinal with a 24-8 overall record and a 13-7 mark in Big Ten play. The Boilermakers advanced after recently winning over Northwestern 81-68 in the third round of the tournament. Over their last five games, Purdue has recently won over Northwestern twice while recently losing to Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Michigan State.
On the season, Purdue averages 82.3 points per game while allowing 70.6 points per contest. The Boilermakers shoot an impressive 50% from the field and average 35.5 rebounds and 19.7 assists per game. Defensively, Purdue contributes 2.7 blocks and 5.6 steals per game while relying heavily on efficient ball movement and strong half-court execution.
In their win over Northwestern, Oscar Cluff led Purdue with 19 points while also controlling the glass with 10 rebounds. Purdue shot 49% from the field and dominated the rebounding battle 35-23 while committing just seven turnovers. With the Boilermakers already playing a tournament game and facing a short turnaround, maintaining that offensive rhythm and rebounding presence will be critical in this quarterfinal matchup.
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Nebraska Rested After Bye and Carrying Momentum
Nebraska enters the Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinal with a 26-5 overall record and a 15-5 mark in Big Ten play. The Cornhuskers earned a bye into the quarterfinal round thanks to their strong regular-season performance. Over their last five games, Nebraska has recently won over Iowa in overtime, USC, Maryland, and Penn State while recently losing to UCLA.
On the season, Nebraska averages 77.9 points per game while allowing just 66.0 points per contest. The Cornhuskers shoot 47% from the field and average 35.1 rebounds and 18.1 assists per game. Defensively, Nebraska records 2.6 blocks and 7.4 steals per contest while relying on defensive pressure and disciplined rotations to limit opponents.
In their most recent game, Nebraska defeated Iowa 84-75 in overtime, with Cale Jacobsen leading the team with 15 points while also grabbing eight rebounds. The Cornhuskers shot 50% from the field and connected on 10 three-pointers in the victory. With extra rest from the tournament bye and strong shooting momentum, Nebraska enters this matchup with confidence.
Purdue vs Nebraska Pick
Purdue vs Nebraska Spread Pick
- Pick: Purdue -3.5
Purdue enters this matchup with one of the most efficient offenses in the conference, averaging over 82 points per game while shooting 50% from the field. The Boilermakers also showed strong rebounding and ball security in their tournament win over Northwestern. While Nebraska has been excellent defensively this season, Purdue’s offensive balance and ability to control the boards give the Boilermakers the edge to cover the spread.
Purdue vs Nebraska Total Pick
- Pick: Over 142.5
I like the over in this matchup because both teams have been shooting the ball well heading into the tournament. Purdue scored 81 points in its last game, while Nebraska put up 84 points in its overtime win over Iowa while shooting 50% from the field. If both teams continue to play efficiently on offense, this game has a good chance to push past the total.
Final Score Prediction: Purdue 78, Nebraska 74
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