Purdue vs. Alabama college basketball odds: Opening point spread released, how to watch

No. 2 Purdue and No. 8 Alabama are set to clash in a monstrous early-season non-conference matchup Thursday night, with the game taking place at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Both programs head into the game with 2-0 records, although the Crimson Tide boasts a much better win.

The Boilermakers opened with wins over Evansville and Oakland, while Alabama downed North Dakota in its season opener. The Crimson Tide also knocked off No. 5 St. John’s in The Garden last Saturday.

Ahead of the matchup, the early point spread and more have been revealed. All odds are courtesy of BetMGM. Alabama has opened as a 3.5-point favorite over Purdue. The over/under is set at 174.5 points.

These programs met last season and have previously met just 10 times dating back to 1976. In the first game of the two-year home-and-home series, No. 13 Purdue rolled No. 2 Alabama 87-78 at home last season. Purdue forward Trey Kaufman-Renn, who is making his season debut Thursday night, scored 26 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the win last year.

How to watch No. 2 Purdue at No. 8 Alabama

Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Channel: ESPN2
Location: Tuscaloosa, AL

One of the most important moments of the college basketball offseason was Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr.‘s decision to return to college. It appeared as if he was heading to the NBA Draft, but pulled his name from the pool just minutes before the deadline expired. He has been sensational for Nate Oats‘ squad through two games, averaging 23.5 points and 5.5 assists. In Alabama‘s win over St. John’s, Philon exploded for 25 points on 10/17 shooting.

Philon Jr. was just one of four Alabama players who scored 15-plus points in the win over the Red Storm. Point guard Aden Holloway contributed 21 points on 9/18 shooting, while guard Latrell Wrightsell and Florida State transfer forward Taylor Bol Bowen both poured in 17 points. When the Crimson Tide offense gets hot, there may not be a more efficient one in the country.

While this was also true last season, Purdue did a great job at taming the offense. The Boilermakers held Alabama to just 44% shooting from the field in last season’s win, including 9/29 from three-point range. They held Evansville to just 51 points in their season opener, but did allow 77 points to Oakland last Friday night in a 10-point victory.

They’ve, however, been without Kaufman-Renn, who will be massive to have back for Matt Painter‘s team Thursday night. In his absence, senior forward Trey Murphy has averaged 7.0 points through two games. Offensively, superstar guards Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith lead the way for Purdue.

Loyer, who is one of the best three-point shooters in the game, is averaging 22.5 points on 58.8% shooting from three-point range (10/17). Smith, regarded as a Naismith National Player of the Year candidate, is averaging a double-double (13.0 points and 10.0 assists).

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