Expert prediction
NCAA Elite Eight: Purdue vs Arizona Preview, Odds, Predictions (March 28)
Pick rationale
Analysis & key factors
- The Boilermakers dispatched Texas in the Sweet 16.
- The Wildcats took down Arkansas in the Round of 16.
- This marks the 14th all-time meeting between the two programs.
The March 28 schedule is loaded with plenty of tournament matchups as the Arizona Wildcats take on the Purdue Boilermakers in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The former shines as the solid favorite, displaying the high quality both teams possess as they aspire to reach the Elite Eight.
How to Watch
- When: Saturday, March 28, 8:49 pm ET
- Where: SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose, California
- How to Watch: TBS/truTV
NCAA Matchup Odds & Lines
| Team | Odds | Spread | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purdue | -114 | +5.5 | O153 |
| Arizona | -106 | -5.5 | U153 |
Game Preview
The Boilermakers (30-8) continue building their case as a national championship contender this tournament, taking down Queens, Miami and Texas in the opening three rounds. Trey Kaufman-Renn scored 20 points with eight rebounds on 8-of-10 shooting from the field and 4-of-4 from the free throw line, pulling off the game-winning shot in the final second against Texas. Fletcher Loyer scored 18 points and has scored in double-figures in 10 straight games, going 4-of-8 from 3-point range, while Braden Smith scored 16 points with five assists and two steals. Purdue advanced to its second Elite Eight in the last three years and its third Elite Eight in the last seven tournaments.
The Wildcats (35-2) build their case as a national championship contender, torching Long Island, Utah State and most recently Arkansas in the Sweet 16. Brayden Burries scored 21 points and fellow freshman Koa Peat added 21 as part of a record-setting balanced attack. Ivan Kharchenkov also had 15 points, while Jaden Bradley, Motiejus Krivas and Tobe Awaka scored 14 apiece. Arizona returns to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2015.
Purdue vs Arizona Head-to-Head
The two programs have had 13 meetings in their history, and the result is 8-5 for the Boilermakers. The last matchup was in December 2023 when Purdue secured a 92-84 win.
Purdue vs Arizona Predictions
The winner of this matchup will take on the victors between Tennessee and Michigan in the Final Four. This game will be a rightful tossup as a spot in the Final Four is on the line. Both Purdue and Arizona have strong cases to make as championship contenders, but only one of them will remain standing to get to the next round. It will go down to the wire as Jaden Bradley and Brayden Burries might have the edge in making key plays down the stretch. Our betting pick here is for the Wildcats to defend a 5.5-point spread.
- Free NCAAB pick: Arizona Wildcats -5.5
NCAAB
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