Wherever you go, sports are always a hot topic of conversation, and the spotlight can quickly be turned in your direction the moment you make people aware that you write about sports every day. There are a lot of questions that I hear from people when I am out and about, but far and away the most common of those questions have to do with betting and which games should be played. At this time of year, people generally want to know your March Madness betting pick to win it all, and when I was pressed into giving an answer a few weeks ago, I went with the Purdue Boilermakers. Their form took a bit of a hit as soon as the words left my mouth, yet here we are now with my pick to win it all safely into the Sweet 16.
Purdue are in as the #2 seed in the East Region and have what is sure to be their toughest game of the tournament yet when they go against the Texas Tech Red Raider on Friday night in Boston. Purdue comes into this one as a slight 1 ½ point favorite.
This is going to be the toughest challenge yet for the Red Raider, as their defense is going to be put to the test against a Purdue team that has not yet given their best on the offensive side of the court during this tournament.
2018 March Madness Betting Prediction: Boilermakers vs. Red Raiders
Another one for @cboogie_3
👉🏽 2nd-Team @NABC1927 All-American.#MarchMadness / #BoilerUp 🚂 pic.twitter.com/9RPDse7Nwv — Purdue Men’s Basketball (@BoilerBall) 21 de marzo de 2018
- When: Friday, March 23 at 9:57 PM EST
- Where: TD Garden, Boston
- TV: TBS
- Radio: TuneIn
- Live Stream: MM Live
- March Madness Betting Odds: Purdue Boilermakers -1.5 (Over/Under at 137.5)
2018 Sweet 16 Pick & March Madness Lines: Duke vs. Syracuse
Team Records
- All: Texas Tech Red Raiders 26-9 / Purdue Boilermakers 30-6
- Home: Texas Tech Red Raiders 20-2 / Purdue Boilermakers 20-3
- Away: Texas Tech Red Raiders 6-7 / Purdue Boilermakers 10-3
- ATS: Texas Tech Red Raiders 14-16-1 / Purdue Boilermakers 16-18-1
- Over/Under: Texas Tech Red Raiders 15-16 / Purdue Boilermakers 18-17
Why bet on the Purdue Boilermakers?
Right around the time I chose Purdue as my pick to win the National Championship, they were sitting pretty as the #3 ranked team in the nation. The slide began with 3 straight losses before righting the ship and going on a 5-game win streak that was eventually brought to a halt by the Michigan Wolverines in the Big Ten Championship Game. The Boilermakers started their tournament versus Cal State Fullerton, a game that they won going away, 74-48. They were made to work for their win in the second round against Butler, outlasting the Bulldogs for a 76-73 win. While they have been winning, the Boilermakers are scoring below their season average of 80 PPG, which leads you to believe that they still have the ability to step up a gear as the tournament progresses.Team Statistics
Offense- Total Score: 80.81
- Field Goal Percentage: 49.39
- Three-Point Percentage: 42.09
- Free Throw Percentage: 74.09
- Total Rebounds: 35.14
- Total Score: 65.36
- Field Goal Percentage: 41.11
- Three-Point Percentage: 33.33
- Free Throw Percentage: 68.03
- Total Rebounds: 32.39
Why bet on the Texas Tech Red Raiders?
Texas Tech is a team that did not come into the tournament on a good run of form, losing 5 of their last 7 games. They put in a workmanlike effort in a 70-60 win over Stephen F. Austin in the opening round, after which they were taken right down to the wire in a 69-66 win over the Florida Gators. This was never going to be a team that came out and blew anyone away, as their success this season has come by playing some stellar defense, giving up 64.6 PPG this season.
This is going to be the toughest challenge yet for the Red Raider, as their defense is going to be put to the test against a Purdue team that has not yet given their best on the offensive side of the court during this tournament.
Team Statistics
Offense- Total Score: 74.91
- Field Goal Percentage: 46.36
- Three-Point Percentage: 36.39
- Free Throw Percentage: 69.63
- Total Rebounds: 36.06
- Total Score: 64.60
- Field Goal Percentage: 40.26
- Three-Point Percentage: 32.69
- Free Throw Percentage: 69.49
- Total Rebounds: 31.94
Latest March Madness Betting Trends
- Texas Tech is 0-4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
- Texas Tech is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Texas Tech’s last 7 games
- Purdue is 2-11-1 ATS in its last 14 games
- Purdue is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Purdue’s last 7 games
