Grambling State vs. Purdue Picks, Odds, Starting Lineups for the 2024 March Madness Round of 64
Grambling State vs. Purdue Picks, Odds, Starting Lineups for the 2024 March Madness Round of 64
Purdue and Grambling are the 1 seed vs. 16 seed matchup in Round 1 of the Midwest region, which is set to tip-off from Gainbridge Field House in Indianapolis, Indiana on Friday night.
The Boilermakers had an early exit as a 1-seed last season in March Madness, which is more than likely going to fuel their tenacity against Grambling, who played their way into this matchup after beating Montana State in overtime during the First Four play-in game.
Zach Edey is the dominant seven-footer in the paint for Purdue, which means Grambling is going to have its hands full trying to score and grab rebounds inside the arc, where they made their living against Montana State. Purdue is 16th in the country when it comes to field goal percentage, converting over 48 percent of attempts, while Grambling is barely over 44 percent.
Here's the current odds for Grambling vs. Purdue, along with starting lineups, that we'll use to locate best bets to target within this 1 vs. 16 matchup in the Midwest Region of the March Madness bracket that tips off on Friday night from Indianapolis.
GRAMBLING VS. PURDUE START TIME, WHERE TO WATCH, AND ODDS
- Date: Friday, March 22, 2024
- Start Time: 7:25 p.m. ET
- Where to Watch: TBS
GRAMBLING VS. PURDUE ODDS AND BETTING DATA
| TEAM | SPREAD | MONEYLINE | IMPLIED CHANCE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grambling Tigers | +26.5 (-115) | 3000 | 3.23% |
| Purdue Boilermakers | -26.5 (-105) | -10000 | 99.01% |
This matchup gives us one of the biggest point spreads in Round 1 this season. Purdue is laying -26.5 on the point spread, while Grambling is +3000 on the moneyline. This gives the Tigers only a three percent chance to win outright.
Laying 26.5 points points is a lot to wager, but Grambling is going to be outmatched at every position on the floor. The only thing working in favor of bettors backing the Tigers is Purdue's fear of another Round 1 exit as a top-seed in the region.
The Boilermakers know all too well how much pressure is on them, with expectations of a National Championship title needing to be fulfilled. Oddsmakers have also set the point total line at 139.5, with -110 in either direction.
58 percent of money is coming in on Purdue -26.5, while 51 percent of bets are on Grambling. The Tigers are resilient, only losing once in their past 11 games, which was by three points. It makes sense that laying 27 points with Purdue, who has burned bettors in recent appearances in March Madness, isn't an enticing line to wager.
GRAMBLING VS. PURDUE PREDICTION
This is essentially a home game for Purdue, playing an hour or two away from their campus. Grambling will be over their skis trying to defend and counter Edey, but the Boilermakers also possess some elite scoring talent on the perimeter.
Purdue's last game resulted in a one-point overtime loss to Wisconsin during the Big 10 tournament. Expect the Boilermakers to come out with a singular focus against a Grambling offense that struggles from beyond the arc. The Tigers clawed their way back into the game in the second half of the First Four game against Montana State, relying on Jimel Cofer, Antwan Burnett, and Jourdan Smith to produce their offense.
A trio of guards, formed by Braden Smith, Lance Jones, and Fletcher Loyer, all average over 10 points per game, with Smith racking up over seven assists per game. Expect Edey to be fed early and often in the interior, where he should make his presence felt even more on the defensive end. Grambling relies on their scoring in the interior, so despite the massive number, we're laying -26.5 with Purdue, which is going against skeptical public bettors.
Grambling vs. Purdue Prediction: Purdue -26.5 (-110) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
GRAMBLING VS. PURDUE PROJECTED LINEUPS
Grambling projected lineup:
- G Dozier Kintavious
- G Tra'michael Moton
- F Jourdan Smith
- F Antwan Burnett
- F Jonathan Aku
Purdue projected lineup:
- C Zach Edey
- G Braden Smith
- G Lance Jones
- G Fletcher Loyer
- F Mason Gillis
GRAMBLING MARCH MADNESS ODDS
No surprise, Grambling is +100000 odds in the National Champion futures market for March Madness this season. A 16-seed almost always has the longest odds to make a run, since we've never seen a team ranked this low win outright. Factor in the extra play-in game and the Tigers' endurance is already at a disadvantage compared to other teams in the tournament. No need to invest in Grambling for a futures ticket.
PURDUE MARCH MADNESS ODDS
Oddsmakers are bullish on Purdue to run the table with Edey leading the way. They are third in the National Champion futures market, sitting at +700 odds. Only UConn (+380) and Houston (+600) have shorter odds than the Boilermakers. Bettors may scoff at these odds, considering Purdue's shortcomings in previous tournaments, but they seem ready to lock in and go on a run. Tennessee, Creighton, Kansas, Gonzaga, and Oregon are the notable teams in the Midwest Region that could give Purdue trouble, but grabbing a futures ticket at 7:1 odds may look like a steal this time next week.
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Matt is an avid writer, editor, and researcher. He enjoys analyzing the game within the game which is fantasy sports and sports betting. Music is another constant in his daily life. Matt loves spending time with his wife and three pets. He likes to read, listen to podcasts, and is constantly motivated to create the most accurate and engaging content in the sports betting industry.