Expert prediction
NCAA Second Round: Miami vs Purdue Preview, Odds, Predictions (March 22)
Pick rationale
Analysis & key factors
- The Hurricanes took down Missouri in the Round of 64.
- The Boilermakers blew past Queens in the first round.
- This marks the fifth all-time matchup between the two squads.
The second half of the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament will commence on the March 22 slate as the Miami Hurricanes take on the Purdue Boilermakers on Sunday afternoon. The latter comes out as the solid favorite, paving the way for a strong matchup to tip-off the latter portion of the Round of 32.
How to Watch
- When: Sunday, March 22, 12:10 pm ET
- Where: Enterprise Center, St. Louis, Missouri
- How to Watch: CBS
NCAA Matchup Odds & Lines
| Team | Odds | Spread | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | -105 | +7.5 | O147.5 |
| Purdue | -115 | -7.5 | U147.5 |
Game Preview
The Hurricanes (26-8) continue their surge as one of the best up-and-coming teams under first-year head coach Jai Lucas, taking down Missouri in the Round of 64. Malik Reneau led all scorers with 24 points, 19 of which came in the second half, and added six rebounds and three assists. Tre Donaldson finished with 17 points and was 5-of-7 on 3-pointers as Shelton Henderson registered 15 points. Ernest Udeh Jr. hauled in a game-high 10 rebounds.
The Boilermakers (28-8) have a case to make as a national championship contender, making easy work of Queens in a 33-point blowout win during the first round. Braden Smith became the NCAA all-time leader in career assists with 1,083. He scored 26 points with eight assists and three rebounds, going 10-of-15 from the field. Trey Kaufman-Renn scored 25 points with nine rebounds and three assists, going 12-of-18 from the field. Fletcher Loyer scored 14 points, surpassing 100, 3-pointers on the season, now with 102.
Miami vs Purdue Head-to-Head
The two programs have had four meetings in their history, and the result is 3-1 for the Boilermakers.
Miami vs Purdue Predictions
The winner of this matchup will take on the Texas Longhorns in the Sweet 16. Miami has exceeded expectations in wonderful fashion, seeing Malik Reneau and Tre Donaldson elevate the program back to prominence in just one year. However, Purdue will grant them a strong test, showing that a lot of factors will come into play as this game will go down to the wire. Our betting pick here is for the Boilermakers to cover a 7.5-point spread.
- Free NCAAB pick: Miami Hurricanes +7.5
NCAAB
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