NFL Tickets
TV Schedule: Saturday, Dec. 19, 5:00 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network
Arena: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Line: Purdue (-5)
The undefeated No. 9 Purdue Boilermakers will finally get the chance to prove that they are deserving of a top national ranking, as they face off with the No. 17 Butler Bulldogs in the 2015 Crossroads Classic.
The Boilermakers have yet to play any team expected to go to the 2016 NCAA tournament via an at-large berth, so it’s no surprise that even in being undefeated they are ranked as low as ninth. Because of the weakness of the majority of their opponents, it’s hard to get a feel for a team that ranks so highly in defensive categories. Despite this, however, the combined presence of Caleb Swanigan and A.J. Hammons are enough to convince anyone that this is arguably the best rebounding team in college basketball.
Butler, on the other hand, have won five straight since their defeat by the Miami Hurricanes, including a great win over the Cincinnati Bearcats. The Bulldogs have the second ranked offense in the country and have scored at least 85 points in six of their nine total games. Something has to give when this high-flying offense takes on the stout defense of the Boilermakers.
Purdue, at least on paper, seems to be the better team. The difference between the Bulldogs and the Boilermakers, however, is that Butler has been tested a few times this season while Purdue has not been tested at all.
I like the Boilermakers to compete in the Big 10 and to go on a deep run in the 2016 NCAA tournament, but I think Butler gets the better of Purdue just barely in this one and hands the Boilermakers their first loss of the season.
Prediction: Butler 80, Purdue 79
Taylor Sturm is a Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TSturmRS, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
Share 
