Expert prediction
NCAA Sweet 16: Texas vs Purdue Preview, Odds, Predictions (March 26)
Pick rationale
Analysis & key factors
- The Longhorns stunned Gonzaga in the Round of 32.
- The Boilermakers blew past Miami in the second round.
- This marks the seventh all-time matchup between the two squads.
The first half of the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament will commence on the March 26 slate as the Texas Longhorns take on the Purdue Boilermakers on Thursday night. The latter comes out as the solid favorite, paving the way for a strong matchup to tip-off the first portion of the Sweet 16.
How to Watch
- When: Thursday, March 26, 7:10 pm ET
- Where: SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose, California
- How to Watch: CBS
NCAA Matchup Odds & Lines
| Team | Odds | Spread | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | -108 | +8 | O147.5 |
| Purdue | -112 | -8 | U147.5 |
Game Preview
The Longhorns (21-14) are on a remarkable roll in March Madness, first beating NC State and BYU before stunning Gonzaga in the Round of 32. Matas Vokietaitis delivered another strong performance of 17 points as he converted 7-of-11 field goals and 3-of-5 free throws while grabbing nine rebounds and adding two assists. On another note, Jordan Pope also provided 17 points as he hit 3-of-8 from three-point range and posted three assists without a turnover.
The Boilermakers (29-8) continue building their case as a national championship contender this tournament, taking down Queens and most recently Miami in the opening two rounds. In his first game since breaking Bobby Hurley’s NCAA career record for assists, Braden Smith had 12 points and eight assists but also committed eight turnovers against Miami’s defense, matching his career high. Meanwhile, Fletcher Loyer scored 24 points and Trey Kaufman-Renn had 19 points and nine rebounds.
Texas vs Purdue Head-to-Head
The two programs have had six meetings in their history, and the result is 4-2 for the Longhorns. The last matchup was in March 2022 when Purdue won 81-71 in that year’s NCAA Tournament.
Texas vs Purdue Predictions
The winner of this matchup will take on the victors between Arizona and Arkansas in the Elite Eight on March 28. Texas will look to emphasize its size inside the paint with Matas Vokietaitis showing off strong form, but Purdue might have the edge in terms of versatility on both sides of the ball, presenting challenges for the Longhorns’ underdog run. Our betting pick here is for the Boilermakers to defend an 8-point spread.
- Free NCAAB pick: Purdue Boilermakers -8
NCAAB
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