The Texas Longhorns and Purdue Boilermakers meet Thursday in the college basketball NCAA Tournament at the SAP Center. Here’s a Purdue vs. Texas Prediction. This article will include a Purdue vs. Texas Pick.
Texas Longhorns Betting Preview
The Texas Longhorns beat Gonzaga and BYU. Texas has split its last 10 games.
The Texas Longhorns are averaging 84.4 points on 49 percent shooting and allowing 76.9 points on 44.8 percent shooting. Dailyn Swain is averaging 17.4 points and 7.5 rebounds, while Matas Vokietaitis is averaging 15.7 points and 7.2 rebounds. Tramon Mark is the third double-digit scorer, and Jordan Pope is dishing 1.9 assists. The Texas Longhorns are shooting 35.3 percent from beyond the arc and 74.9 percent from the free-throw line. The Texas Longhorns are allowing 36.4 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 34.8 rebounds per game.
Purdue Boilermakers Betting Preview
The Purdue Boilermakers beat Queens and Miami. Purdue has won 12 of its last 16 games.
The Purdue Boilermakers are averaging 82.3 points on 50.1 percent shooting and allowing 70.7 points on 44.5 percent shooting. Braden Smith is averaging 14.3 points and 3.5 rebounds, while Trey Kaufman-Renn is averaging 14.1 points and 8.5 rebounds. Fletcher Loyer is the third double-digit scorer and Oscar Cluff is grabbing 7.5 rebounds. The Purdue Boilermakers are shooting 38.5 percent from beyond the arc and 74.2 percent from the free throw line. The Purdue Boilermakers are allowing 34.2 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 33.2 rebounds per game.
Why the Purdue Boilermakers will win
- Purdue has won each of its last 10 games against non-AP-ranked opponents at a neutral venue.
- Texas has lost 12 of its last 13 games against Top 10 AP-ranked opponents.
- Purdue has won the first half in each of its last six games against non-AP-ranked opponents at a neutral venue.
Why the Texas Longhorns will win
- Texas has won each of its last 11 Thursday games.
- Purdue has lost each of its last three March day games as a top-15 AP-ranked team against a non-AP-ranked team.
- Texas has won the first half in 23 of its last 24 day games played at neutral venues.
Total Points: Facts
- Eight of Purdue’s last nine NCAA Tournament games have produced a total of 148 or fewer points.
- Eight of Texas’ last nine day games at a neutral venue have produced a total of 150+ points.
Matchup/League Facts
- Purdue is the only team to be a top four seed in each of the last five NCAA Tournaments.
- Purdue ranks 1st among Division 1 teams for assist-to-turnover ratio this season (2.21).
- Texas has committed fewer than 10 turnovers in two games during this season’s NCAA Tournament—equal to the most of any team.
- Texas has won the rebound count in two of its games during this season’s NCAA Tournament—equal to the most of any team.
Purdue vs Texas Prediction
Purdue is the more talented team and is finally playing like the title contender we expected to see from the start. However, Purdue is still just 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games as a favorite overall and 4-13 ATS in its last 17 games when favorites of 5 or more points. As I mentioned in my Texas-Gonzaga write-up, we see every year a team come out of the First Four and make a run. It looks like Texas is that team. A gritty bunch that crashes the glass and competes.
Since January 10, Texas is 4-2 ATS when an underdog of 5 or more points and 2 of those covers were outright wins. I just don’t see Texas going down quietly. Expect a physical game down low that’s decided in the final five minutes. I want the points.