Purdue vs. Alabama Prediction & Odds: College Basketball Betting Preview for Nov. 13

I’m making my Purdue vs. Alabama prediction for tonight’s marquee showdown between the No. 2 Boilermakers and No. 8 Crimson Tide at 7 p.m. ET at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (ESPN).

Alabama (2-0) is a 3.5-point home favorite against Purdue (2-0), which makes sense after diving into the specifics of this matchup.

✅ Purdue vs. Alabama prediction & expert picks

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📊 Purdue vs. Alabama odds

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🏀 Purdue vs. Alabama preview & score prediction

The Crimson Tide are coming off a signature win, defeating St. John’s by seven at Madison Square Garden on Saturday. They’ve had time to turn the page ahead of their second marquee matchup within six days, but it’s hard not to wonder if this is a letdown spot.

Can Alabama avoid a letdown?

There is a reason why I’m not comfortable laying more than a full possession with the Crimson Tide. It’s a lot to ask of them to put up consecutive convincing performances in less than a week, particularly this early into the college basketball season.

That said, I’m down on Purdue and believe Alabama is the better team at home. The Crimson Tide have been elite on the offensive end to start the season, scoring an average of 97 points per game in their 2-0 start. 

Alabama ranks 15th in adjusted offensive efficiency and second in adjusted tempo. If the Crimson Tide turn this game into a track meet, they will feel good about their chances against the Boilermakers.

Purdue, which is coming off a 10-point home win over Oakland, has some defensive issues that could be exposed in this matchup. The Boilermakers allowed five Oakland players to reach double figures last Friday. Alabama has even more offensive threats to throw at Purdue.

If this spread dropped to -3, I’d consider laying the points. For now, I prefer the -162 moneyline price tag (61.83% implied probability) to win $6.17 on a $10 bet.

Score prediction: Alabama 88, Purdue 84

🆚 Purdue vs. Alabama matchup to watch

Labaron Philon Jr. vs. Purdue’s switches

Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr. is tied for 17th in the nation with an average of 23.5 points per game. He scored 25 points on 10-of-17 shooting against St. John’s, which followed a 22-point performance (9-of-13) in the opener against North Dakota.

Philon will continue to be effective on Thursday, particularly when he’s able to take advantage of Purdue switches and target a big man in isolation. The 6-foot-4, 185-pound guard can be difficult to slow down in space.

Philon’s scoring prop is priced at 17.5 across the best sports betting sites, but bet365’s -110 value (52.38%) is the best offer to win $9.09 on a $10 wager.

Best prop bet: Labaron Philon Jr. Over 17.5 points (-110 via bet365)

📺 How to watch Purdue vs. Alabama

• Date: Thursday, Nov. 13
• Tipoff: 7 p.m. ET
• Location: Coleman Coliseum (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
• TV: ESPN