- A rematch from the Maui Invitational is on tap in the Midwest Region as #5 Gonzaga faces #1 Purdue in the Sweet 16
- The Boilermakers won November’s game in Hawaii by ten (73-63)
- See the opening Gonzaga vs Purdue odds, spread, moneyline, and game total
One of the hottest teams in the nation, the #5 Gonzaga Bulldogs will be hoping for a much different result when they face the #1 Purdue Boilermakers for the second time this season in the Sweet 16.
Gonzaga booked its ninth straight trip to the Sweet 16 with an 89-68 blowout of #4 Kansas. Purdue ran over Utah State to reach the Sweet 16 for the second time in the last three tries, helping to erase painful memories of last year’s first-round loss to #16 Fairleigh Dickinson.
The opening Gonzaga vs Purdue odds project a closer game than the first meeting between the teams at the Maui Invitational, which ended in a 73-63 Boilermaker victory.
Gonzaga vs Purdue Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gonzaga Bulldogs | +5.5 (-110) | +184 | O 152.5 (-110) |
| Purdue Boilermakers | -5.5 (-110) | -225 | U 152.5 (-110) |
Purdue has opened as a 5.5-point favorite for this Midwest Region Sweet 16 games at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The Boilermakers are -225 on the moneyline (69.23% implied win probability) with the Zags at +184 (35.21%).
Odds as of March 24 at FanDuel.
Gonzaga Breezes Through First Two Rounds
Arguably the most-impressive team in the tournament to date, Gonzaga won each of its first two games by 21 points. In the round of 64, Gonzaga led (almost) from the jump while crushing #12 McNeese 86-65 as 6.5-point favorites. After a back-and-forth first half with Kansas, which saw the Jayhawks take a one-point lead into the break, the Zags dominated the second half and cruised to an 89-68 victory.
Wyoming transfer and leading scorer Graham Ike (16.4 PPG, 7.3 RPG) led the charge against McNeese with a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double (both team-highs). As a team, the Zags shot 51.7% from the field and 47.6% from three, and five players finished in double-figures.
Against Kansas, four different Zags finished with at least 15 points, led by 21 from Anton Watson on 8-of-11 shooting. Point guard Ryan Nembhard had a career-high 12 assists, his fifth straight game with at least nine dimes.
Gonzaga nows rates 12th overall at KenPom, sixth on offense but just 40th on defense. Haslametrics (seventh) and Torvik (10th) both rate the Bulldogs slightly higher.
Purdue’s Edey Too Much for Utah State
Coming off a gargantuan 30-point, 21-rebound performance in Purdue’s 78-50 rout of #16 Grambling on Friday, Zach Edey was at it again on Sunday in his team’s win over #8 Utah State. The wire-to-wire favorite in the Wooden Award odds, Edey had 23 points and 14 rebounds against the Aggies in just 26 minutes.
His 21 points and 11 rebounds in the first half helped his team open a 49-33 edge by the break, a lead that only grew in the second half; Matt Painter was able to empty his bench with over five minutes to play.
Edey also had a huge night when he led Purdue to a 73-63 win over Gonzaga in Maui, finishing with 25 points and 14 rebounds on 8-of-16 shooting from the field and a subline 9-of-10 performance from the free-throw line. Edey’s free-throw percentage has dipped slightly from last season (73.4%) but he’s still hitting at a solid 71.1% from the stripe.
Purdue started the tournament as the +165 favorite to win the Midwest Region in the Final Four odds. The Boilermakers enter the Sweet 16 as the betting favorite, but their odds are relatively unchanged in a very chalky region that features four of the top-five seeds.
Purdue remains third overall in KenPom’s efficiency ratings (fourth on offense, 19th on defense), while also sitting third (behind UConn and Houston) at Haslametrics and Torvik.
The winner of Gonzaga vs Purdue will meet the winner of #3 Creighton vs #2 Tennessee in the Elite Eight portion of the March Madness bracket.
Purdue head coach is just 1-5 lifetime in the Sweet 16, reaching his one and only Elite Eight in the 2019 NCAA Tournament. Gonzaga coach Mark Few is 5-7 in the Sweet 16, but 5-3 since 2015. The Zags beat UCLA (79-76) in the Sweet 16 last year, eventually bowing out to eventual-champion UConn (82-54) in the Elite Eight.
In a highly anticipated matchup between two college basketball powerhouses, the Purdue Boilermakers are favored over the Gonzaga Bulldogs. The game, set to take place on Saturday, promises to be a thrilling showdown between two top-ranked teams.
The Boilermakers come into the game with a 7-1 record, having already notched impressive wins over top teams such as North Carolina and Villanova. Led by star player Jaden Ivey, Purdue boasts a strong offense and a tenacious defense that has proven to be a formidable force on the court.
On the other hand, the Gonzaga Bulldogs have had a solid start to the season with a 6-2 record. Led by standout player Drew Timme, the Bulldogs have shown flashes of brilliance but have also struggled at times, particularly on the defensive end.
Despite Gonzaga’s talent and potential, many experts believe that Purdue’s depth and experience give them the edge in this matchup. The Boilermakers have a well-rounded team with multiple scoring options and a strong defensive presence that could pose problems for the Bulldogs.
However, Gonzaga is known for their ability to rise to the occasion in big games and should not be counted out. With Timme leading the charge, the Bulldogs have the potential to pull off an upset and secure a statement win against Purdue.
Overall, this matchup between Purdue and Gonzaga promises to be a thrilling contest between two top-tier teams. Fans can expect a high-energy game with plenty of excitement and drama as these two powerhouse programs battle it out on the court. It will be interesting to see which team comes out on top and solidifies their spot as a contender in the college basketball landscape.
