Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons vs Northern Kentucky Norse Picks and Prediction for Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Use Code WWWC It’s a matchup in the middle of the pack in the Horizon League on Wednesday, Feb. 18. Read our Purdue Fort Wayne vs Northern Kentucky prediction along with our NCAAB picks for the night. IPFW is 15-12 with an 8-7 conference record this season. The Mastodons have lost four of their last six games coming into this one. Northern Kentucky has won back-to-back games with their 11-13 record. Both teams are coming off close wins over IU Indy. These two teams will meet with tip-off set for 7 P.M. EST.
IPFW back in the win column
Purdue Fort Wayne is 15-12 overall this season. The Mastodons are 8-7 in the Horizon League as they are three games back of Wright State for the conference lead. IPFW is currently in a tie for fifth place. They have a 4-9 road record this season. The Mastodons have lost four of their last six games coming into this matchup.
In their last game, IPFW defeated IU Indianapolis 83-78 at home on Sunday, Feb. 15. The Mastodons went on a 13-1 run in the second half to separate themselves, but the Jaguars put in a late push for IPFW was able to hang on for the win. IPFW shot 54% from the field and 45% from behind the arc in the win. Corey Hadnot II led the team with 31 points on 14-for-20 shooting.
Hadnot II leads the team with 20.3 points and 3.3 assists per game. Darius Duffy is grabbing a team-high 4.7 rebounds per game.
Get Free $30 Credit for Premium Picks + Exclusive Discounts
Subscribe Now
According to KenPom, IPFW is the 258th ranked team in the nation. They are ranked 235th on offense and they are the 263rd ranked defensive team.
IPFW is averaging 81.7 points per game, which ranks 89th in the nation. They are the 84th ranked shooting team, making 46.9% from the field. The Mastodons are the 94th ranked 3-point shooting team, making 35.5% from behind the arc.
On defense, IPFW is allowing 79.8 points per game, which ranks 297th in the nation. The Mastodons are allowing 46.4% from the field, which ranks 301st. They are the 324th ranked 3-point defensive team, giving up 36.1% from behind the arc.
IPFW is 11-13 against the spread this season. They are 6-7 against the spread when playing on the road. The Mastodons are 3-3 against the spread when they have been single-digit underdogs. IPFW is 7-9 against the spread when playing Horizon League opponents. The over is 13-11 when IPFW has played this season. The over is 9-7 during conference games. The under is 6-7 during road games this year, too.
Northern Kentucky needs late comeback in win vs IU Indy
Northern Kentucky is 16-11 overall this season. They are in seventh place in the Horizon League with an 8-8 record. The Norse are four games back of Wright State for the top spot in the conference. They are 11-4 when they have played at home this season. After losing five straight games, the Norse have won back-to-back games.
In their last game, Northern Kentucky defeated IU Indianapolis 84-81 on the road on Thursday, Feb. 12. The Jaguars led for a majority of the game before Northern Kentucky went on a 16-4 run late in the game to help the Norse secure the road win. Northern Kentucky shot 52% from the field and 43% from behind the arc in the win. Donovan Oday led the team with 26 points on 10-for-15 shooting.
Oday leads the team with 18.7 points per game. LJ Wells is grabbing 7.2 rebounds, while Ethan Elliott is dishing out 4.3 assists per game.
Northern Kentucky is the 189th ranked team in the nation, according to KenPom. They have the 184th ranked offense and the 71st ranked defense.
Northern Kentucky is averaging 86.2 points per game, which ranks 28th this season. They are the 93rd ranked shooting team, making 46.8% from the field. The Norse are hitting 33.7% from behind the 3-point line, which ranks 202nd.
On defense, Northern Kentucky is allowing 79.8 points per game, which ranks 296th. They are allowing 45.6% from the field, placing them 268th. The Norse are the 300th ranked 3-point defense, allowing 35.6% from behind the arc.
Northern Kentucky is 9-15 against the spread this season. They are 6-6 against the spread when playing at home this season. The Norse are 7-10 against the spread as a favorite. The Norse have failed to cover in seven straight games. The over is 16-8 when Northern Kentucky have played this season. The over is 11-5 when Northern Kentucky has played conference opponents. The over is 7-5 during home games.
Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons vs Northern Kentucky Norse Picks
IPFW vs Northern Kentucky Spread Pick
- Take Northern Kentucky to cover (5 units)
Both teams are under .500 against the spread this season. The one major thing is that it is hard to win on the road in the Horizon League. With most of the teams of equal value, home court advantage is huge and is a reason why Northern Kentucky will get the win and cover in this game. The Norse have the 28th ranked scoring offense this year. This is an area where IPFW will struggle to contend. They won’t be able to score enough points to keep this game close as the Mastodons haven’t scored more than 86 points in six of their last seven games. Northern Kentucky is 6-6 against the spread during conference games. IPFW is 6-7 against the spread when playing on the road.
Take Northern Kentucky to cover.
IPFW vs Northern Kentucky Over/Under Pick
- Take the over (5 units)
Northern Kentucky’s pace will be a problem for the Mastodons on the road in this one. The Norse are the 71st ranked fastest team in the league this season. They are averring over 86 points per game and they won’t be slowed down by an IPFW team that ranks 263rd on the defensive end. Both teams are averaging over 80 points per game and a high scoring game should be expected. The over is 7-5 during Northern Kentucky home games. The over is also 11-5 when Northern Kentucky has played conference foes.
Take the over on Wednesday.
Betting on College Basketball?
- Join Winners and Whiners premium for free and get a free $30 coupon with code FREE30
- Get started and wager on college hoops today with our favorite online sportsbooks
- Claim a CBB betting bonus offer with the best sportsbook promos
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
New Users – Bet $5 Get $200 in Bet Reset Tokens for 5 Days
