Expert prediction
NCAA First Round: Queens vs Purdue Preview, Odds, Predictions (March 20)
Pick rationale
Analysis & key factors
- The Royals make their first D-I NCAA Tournament appearance.
- The Boilermakers won their third Big Ten tournament title in program history.
- This marks the first all-time matchup between the two squads.
The final matchup of the March 15 slate will happen in the Big Ten Tournament when the No. 3 Michigan Wolverines take on the No. 18 Purdue Boilermakers in the championship game on Sunday afternoon. The former comes out as the slight favorite, paving the way for a strong matchup to conclude the conference tournament and allow Selection Sunday to take over.
How to Watch
- When: Friday, March 20, 7:35 pm ET
- Where: Enterprise Center, St. Louis, Missouri
- How to Watch: truTV
NCAA Matchup Odds & Lines
| Team | Odds | Spread | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queens | -108 | +25.5 | O159.5 |
| Purdue | -112 | -25.5 | U159.5 |
Game Preview
The Royals (21-13) are going Dancing for the first time as Division I program. They took down top-seeded Central Arkansas in a thrilling overtime clash in the ASUN Tournament Championship. Queens shoots 47-percent of their attempts from behind the arc, and rank 67th in the country in 3-point field goal percentage, according to KenPom. However, the Royals can also score down low, ranking 15th in the nation in 2-point field goal percentage. Nasir Mann leads Queens this season with 13.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. The athletic guard brings tournament experience from his time at McNeese State and was named the ASUN Tournament MVP after averaging 16.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, and three assists per game.
The Boilermakers (27-8) have been successful as one of the top squads in the country, beating Michigan to take the Big Ten Championship. The Boilermakers offense is one of the best in the nation as Purdue ranks 55th in the nation in scoring. A key to that success has been taking care of the ball, as the Boilermakers rank first in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio. Braden Smith won the Big Ten Player of the Year Award and landed on the First Team All-America team. Smith is two assists away from breaking Bobby Hurley’s all-time NCAA record set back in 1993. This year, he is averaging a team-high 14.0 points, 9.1 assists and 1.8 steals per game.
Queens vs Purdue Head-to-Head
The two programs are facing each other for the first time in their respective histories.
Queens vs Purdue Predictions
The winner of this matchup will take on the victors between Missouri and Miami in the second round. Queens has exceeded expectations as they look to enjoy their first time in March Madness as a D-I program. Purdue are the dominant favorite for many reasons, prompting many factors for them to prevail over the Royals’ underdog status. Our betting pick here is for the Boilermakers to defend a 25.5-point spread.
- Free NCAAB pick: Purdue Boilermakers -25.5
NCAAB
More Predictions
NFL Odds, Predictions: Broncos vs. Cardinals Week 7 Preview & Picks (Oct 25)
Cards beat the Rams on the road, which gave them a massive morale boost ahead of this event. Meanwhile, the Broncos are in excellent shape, with 4 wins in 5 weeks. Both teams aim for a triumph in Glendale, yet who will come out on top? Stay tuned with us to see the latest NFL […]
Men’s National Championship: UConn vs Michigan Preview, Odds, Predictions (April 6)
The NCAA Tournament has come down to its last game of the 2025-26 campaign, seeing the Big East’s UConn Huskies duke it out with the Big Ten’s Michigan Wolverines. The latter stands out as the slight favorite, presenting the high stakes that will be actively present in this championship showdown. How to Watch NCAA Matchup […]
NIT Championship: Tulsa vs Auburn Preview, Odds, Predictions (April 5)
The 2026 NIT will come to an end as the Auburn Tigers take on the Tulsa Golden Hurricane on Sunday night. The former stands out as the slight favorite, meaning that Tulsa will have its work cut out for them throughout the championship showdown. How to Watch NCAA Matchup Odds & Lines Team Odds Spread […]
College Basketball Crown Championship: Oklahoma vs West Virginia Preview, Odds, Predictions (April 5)
The 2026 College Basketball Crown will come to a close when the West Virginia Mountaineers take on the Oklahoma Sooners. The Sooners stand out as a slight favorite, paving the way for a great showdown in the championship round. How to Watch NCAA Matchup Odds & Lines Team Odds Spread Totals Oklahoma -115 -3 O137 […]
Women’s National Championship: South Carolina vs UCLA Preview, Odds, Predictions (April 5)
The championship game of the 2026 NCAA Women’s Tournament has arrived as it features a battle between the SEC’s South Carolina Gamecocks and the Big Ten’s UCLA Bruins. The former comes out as the slight favorite as both teams compete for the right to end the campaign as national champions. How to Watch NCAA Matchup […]