Purdue Boilermakers vs Northwestern Wildcats Picks and Prediction for Wednesday, March 4, 2026
The regular season schedule is drawing to a close in the Big Ten Conference. Read our Purdue Boilermakers vs Northwestern Wildcats prediction along with our NCAAB picks for the night. Purdue is 22-7 and they are the No. 15 ranked team in the nation. They are two games back of second-place in the league with two games remaining on the schedule. The Boilermakers have lost three of their last four games. Northwestern has won three straight as they have a 13-16 record. These two teams will meet with tip-off set for 8:30 P.M. EST.
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Purdue struggles continue over past week
Purdue is 22-7 overall this season. The Boilermakers are the No. 15 team in the nation as they have a 12-6 Big Ten Conference record. Purdue is 7-3 when playing on the road this year, too. They are five games back of Michigan for first-place. But, they are two games out of Nebraska and Michigan State for second-place with just a few games remaining on the schedule. Purdue has lost three of their last four games entering this matchup.
In their last game, Purdue lost 82-74 to Ohio State on the road on Sunday, March 1. Purdue never led in the final 27 minutes of the game as the Buckeyes dominated for a majority of the outing. Purdue shot 44% from the field and 38% from behind the 3-point line. Braden Smith led the team with 20 points on 7-for-19 shooting.
Smith leads the team with 15 points and 8.7 assists per game. Trey Kaufman-Renn is grabbing a team-high 8.9 rebounds per game.
According to KenPom, Purdue is the seventh ranked team in the nation. They have the second-best ranked offense, while they are also ranked 33rd on the defensive end.
Purdue is averaging 82.3 points per game, which ranks 82nd in the nation. They are shooting 49.9% from the field, which places them 16th. The Boilermakers are the 14th ranked 3-point shooting team, making 38.3% from behind the arc.
On defense, Purdue is allowing 69.9 points per game, which ranks 54th overall. They are giving up 43.9% from the field, which ranks 161st. The Boilermakers are the 149th ranked 3-point defensive team, allowing 33.2% from behind the arc.
Purdue is 13-16 against the spread this season. They are 6-4 against the spread when they have played on the road. The Boilermakers are 7-11 against the spread when playing Big Ten opponents. They have failed to cover in three of their last four games. Purdue is 4-4 against the spread as a road favorite. The under is 15-14 when Purdue has played this season. The under is 6-4 when playing on the road this season. The over is 10-8 when Purdue has played Big Ten opponents. The over has hit in four straight games.
Northwestern riding 3-game winning streak
Northwestern is 13-16 overall this season. The Wildcats are 5-13 in Big Ten Conference play, as they are tied for 14th place in the league. Northwestern is 9-7 when they have played at home this season. After losing five straight games, Northwestern has won three straight games coming into this matchup.
In their last game, Northwestern defeated Oregon 63-62 at home on Saturday, Feb. 28. Nick Martinelli hit the game-winning shot in the final second to seal the win. The Wildcats shot 45% from the field and 25% from behind the arc. The Wildcats forced 16 turnovers to help them secure the victory. Martinelli led the team with 22 points on 8-for-18 shooting.
Martinelli leads the team with 22.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Jayden Reid is dishing out a team-high 4.9 assists per game.
Northwestern is the 68th ranked team in the nation, according to KenPom. They are ranked 73rd in the country on the offense end. They are also the 79th ranked defensive team.
Northwestern is averaging 73.7 points per game, which ranks 271st in the nation. They are the 158th ranked shooting team, making 45.7% from the field. The Wildcats are making 32.3% from behind the 3-point line, which ranks 277th.
On defense, Northwestern is allowing 72.5 points per game, which ranks 109th. They are the 121st ranked defensive team, allowing 43.4% from the field. The Wildcats are also the 133rd ranked 3-point defensive team, giving up 32.8% from behind the arc.
Northwestern is 12-17 against the spread this season. They are 6-9 against the spread when playing at home. The Wildcats are 7-11 against the spread during Big Ten play. Northwestern is 5-11 against the spread when playing as a favorite. The Wildcats are also 7-6 against the spread as an underdog. The under is 15-14 when Northwestern has played this year. The under is 8-7 when the Wildcats have played at home. The under is 10-8 during Big Ten play. 
Purdue Boilermakers vs Northwestern Wildcats Picks
| # | Handicapper | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Ricky Tran | +4,795.00 |
| 2 |  Nick Parsons | +4,721.00 |
| 3 |  Mark Ruelle | +3,688.00 |
| 4 |  David Delano | +3,140.00 |
| 5 |  Trent Bets | +2,534.00 |
Purdue vs Northwestern Spread Pick
- Take Purdue to cover (5 units)
It’s been a tough stretch of games for Purdue. They have lost three of their last four games. The Boilermakers struggled against Ohio State in their last outing. This is a great chance for them to get back into the win column and end the regular season on a high note. Northwestern has won three straight games, but they have been against the bottom half of Big Ten Conference. The Wildcats haven’t played very consistently against the top teams in the league. Purdue’s offensive efficiency will be key in this game as they have the 16th ranked field goal percentage and the 12th-best 3-point shooting team in the sport. Northwestern is just 7-11 against the spread during league play. Purdue is 6-4 against the spread on the road.
Take Purdue to cover.
Purdue vs Northwestern Over/Under Pick
- Take the under (5 units)
Purdue and Northwestern are two of the slowest teams in the conference and in the nation. The Boilermakers are the 299th ranked team in adjusted tempo, while the Wildcats are ranked 262nd this season. These two teams go deep into shot clocks. Purdue is allowing less than 70 points per game, while Northwestern is also the 109th ranked scoring defense. For Northwestern, the under is 10-8 during Big Ten play. The under is 6-4 when playing on the road this season for Purdue.
Take the under on Wednesday.
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