Purdue vs. Michigan prediction and odds for Thursday, January 26 (Jett Howard's status key for Wolverines)

The margin for error is shrinking for Purdue, who has one loss on its ledge to Rutgers, but has been able to maintain elite status in the Big Ten and across the country in hopes of a regular season title and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The Boilermakers are 19-1 on the year and 8-1 in league play as they head to Ann Arbor to face Michigan, who is 11-8 on the year with a 5-3 B1G record, looking for a signature win ahead of Selection Sunday. Can they pounce on Purdue, who has had a few close calls lately and has struggled against the Juwan Howard-led Wolverines?

The key for Michigan will be if Howard’s son, freshman forward Jett Howard can play after leaving the Minnesota game early last weekend.

Here are the odds and the latest on Howard ahead of this Big Ten battle:

Purdue vs. Michigan odds, spread and total

Purdue vs. Michigan prediction and pick

Howard’s status is crucial to this one as the freshman wing has scored in double digits in five straight Big Ten games, including 34 against Iowa on Jan. 12. The Wolverines are going to need shot creators to outpace the Purdue offense that is best in the Big Ten in terms of offensive efficiency, but do most of their damage with big man Zach Edey.

If Michigan can get their perimeter shot going in this one, with a 38% shooter like Howard going, they are live to hand the Boilermakers their second Big Ten loss.

The Wolverines can still compete with Purdue in this one due to the Boilermakers inability to turn the opponent over and their methodical tempo. Matt Painter’s group is outside the top 300 in terms of turnover rate this season and play at a bottom 50 tempo, meaning that Michigan won’t face heavy ball pressure, nor will this game be full of possessions. With limited possessions, that gives Purdue less chances to put points on the board and pull away to win by a few buckets.

Not to mention, Howard has had Painter’s number since taking over as head coach as the Wolverines are 4-1 since 2020.

I’m going to wait for Jett Howard’s status to play, sacrificing a point or so, but I do think that he is impactful enough that would warrant a bet or not. To me, it’s dog or pass with the Wolverines at home.

Track all of Reed’s bets at Betstamp HERE!

—

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.