Grambling State (16) vs. Purdue (1) Bracket Prediction: March Madness Odds
The Boilermakers were named a top seed and remain perched among the favourites on the national championship futures despite seeing a six-game win streak ended by last weekend’s 76-75 loss to Wisconsin that also bounced them from the Big Ten Tournament. The Tigers made their March Madness debut with an 88-81 victory over Montana State in Wednesday’s First Four action to improve to 10-1 in their past 11 games.
The Boilermakers have emerged as massive 36.5-point favourites in this David vs Goliath matchup. The Tigers lag as distant +2500 moneyline underdogs on the First Round odds and the total is listed at 139.5.
Grambling State vs. Purdue NCAA Tournament Point Spread and Betting
Friday night’s clash marks the second all-time meeting between these school. The Boilermakers steamrolled their way to an 80-32 win when these squads met for the first time in November 2014. However, the Tigers have come along way in the decade since, claiming three SWAC regular-season titles and finally punching ticket to the Big Dance with their first ever SWAC Tournament title. Overall, Grambling has compiled a 20-14 record this season including a conference-leading 14-4 mark, and have gone 18-4 since opening their campaign on a 2-10 run and sport a defence that sits among the top 100 in the nation while allowing just 69.4 points per game this season, and contributed to their current respectable 15-6 ATS run.
Saturday’s defeat marked just the third loss by Purdue since December 1. However, this team has consistently disappointed on the college basketball odds, going just 4-9 ATS in their past 13, and a meagre 3-9 ATS in their past 12 while pegged as double-digit chalk.
Grambling State Tigers
After overcoming the excitement of playing in the biggest game in the school’s history and spotting Montana State an early lead that grew into double digits after the half, the Tigers stormed back to force overtime on Tuesday night before sealing the win with a game-ending 10-3 run. Jimel Cofer emerged as the hero after replacing leading scorer Kintavious Dozier just after the break, scoring all his team-high 19 points in the second half and overtime. Antwan Burnett and Jourdain Smith each dropped 18 points, and Smith has now averaged 19 points in the past two games.
Purdue Boilermakers
All eyes will be on Toronto native Zach Edey as Purdue gets set to make a run at their first ever national championship. Edey has been a force in his senior year while racking up a nation-leading 24.4 points per game while also contributing 11.7 rebounds per game, third best in the nation. The towering 21-year-old has been particularly dominant down the stretch, averaging 29.5 points over his past six games and has recorded double-doubles in 17 of his past 20 games. While concern lingers over the health of the team’s No. 2 score Braden Smith, who is nursing a knee injury, the sophomore has insisted he is fit to play and is expected to be in the lineup on Friday.
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