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Charlie Grant
Purdue (2) vs. Butler (10) Odds: March Madness Prediction
The Boilermakers beat down state rival Butler in a non-conference battle before Christmas and will have to get by the Big East team again in order to make a second straight trip to the Sweet 16. Purdue’s depth will be tested as its starting centre and second-leading scorer is out for the remainder of the season.
NCAA Tournament Odds and Betting Analysis
Purdue’s cover as 20-point chalk against Cal State Fullerton was just its second ATS win since Jan. 25th. The Boilermakers were 1-11-1 against the spread in their last 12 games heading into the Big Dance. The Big Ten team is 29-6 straight up and 16-17-1 ATS on the season.
The Boilermakers rolled over the Bulldogs 82-67 at the Crossroad Classic in which all their starters reached double figures and collectively shot 55.8 percent from the field. Butler failed to cover as a 7-point underdog in the game.
The Bulldogs are 21-13 SU and 9-9 in a Big East conference that put six teams in the tournament. They beat Ohio State and handed Villanova one of its four losses, but only four of the Bulldogs’ 19 regular season wins came against teams that made the field of 68.
Butler Bulldogs
Sophomore guard Kamar Baldwin is Butler’s other primary source of scoring. He registered 24 points, nine rebounds and five assists in the team’s opening game of the tournament.
Butler grabbed 18 offensive rebounds in its meeting against Purdue earlier this season. A repeat performance on the boards against a side missing its starting centre might be the Bulldogs’ way on making it to the Sweet 16.
Purdue Boilermakers
The Boilermakers owned one of the fifth-best point differential (+15.8) in all of Division I college basketball but their schedule wasn’t overly challenging either. Purdue ranks 144th on KenPom.com’s nonconference schedule of schedule rating.
Coach Matt Painter will have to get creative against Butler after the injury to Isaac Haas. The Purdue big man fractured his elbow during Friday’s game against Cal State Fullerton. Haas averaged 14.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game this season and tallied 15 points in just 16 minutes of work against the Bulldogs back in December.
