The Huskers may see the return of guard Trey McGowens (6.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg) tonight. He hasn't played since mid-November due to a foot injury but has been cleared. Not a lock he plays, but even if not this is simply a case of the spread being too high. The Boilers have been pushed in every Big Ten game so far; granted, Nebraska is the worst team in the conference, but Purdue likely gets up big and takes its foot off the gas ahead of a much bigger game next at Illinois. Nebraska is 4-1 ATS in its past five.

Purdue has one of the most explosive offenses in the country when its outside shots are falling, but that has not been happening as much lately. The Boilermakers have yet to beat a major-conference team by this many points unless that opponent was down multiple starts. Purdue is capable of covering this spread -- in fact, they are due -- but I'm not buying it until I see it.