Gonzaga vs Purdue Prediction & Best Bets (Midwest Region Semifinals): Maui Foes Meet in the Motor City

One of the two Big Ten teams that reached the Sweet Sixteen has already moved on to the Elite Eight. Will Illinois be joined by Purdue? The Boilermakers, the #1 seed in the Midwest Region, will meet #5 Gonzaga tonight in Detroit (7:39 pm ET, TBS), with the winner moving to face either #2 Tennessee or #3 Creighton in Sunday’s Midwest Region final.

Purdue (31-4) are in the Sweet Sixteen for the fifth time in the last seven tournaments after routing #16 Grambling State (78-50) and #8 Utah State (106-67) in the first two rounds.

With a win over Gonzaga (27-7), the Boilermakers will advance to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2019 and just the third time since 1980, their most recent Final Four appearance.

These two teams met in the first round of the Maui Invitational back in November, with Purdue, who went on to win the event, claiming a 73-63 win.

Will we see a similar result in tonight’s rematch? Gonzaga is playing well right now, so an upset could very well be in the cards tonight. Read on for a look into how you should bet on the Gonzaga-Purdue matchup.

Gonzaga vs Purdue Odds

Odds are via BetOnline, a longtime fixture in the sports betting industry. Check out our BetOnline sportsbook review, then grab yourself a nice sign-up bonus to bet on the Sweet Sixteen.

Spread

• Gonzaga +5.5 (-115)
• Purdue -5.5 (-105)

Over/Under

• Over 154.5 (-115)
• Under 154.5 (-105)

Moneyline

• Gonzaga +195
• Purdue -225

Looking for more picks for today’s games? Our NCAA basketball picks page features moneyline, spread, and total (over/under) picks for today’s four NCAA Tournament games.

Gonzaga vs Purdue Betting Analysis and Prediction

The Bulldogs finished the regular season with eight straight wins, including wins at Kentucky and Saint Mary’s, and though they lost to the Gaels in the championship game of the West Coast Conference tournament, they landed a #5 seed on Selection Sunday.

That seemingly put them in position for a possible upset, but they are in the Sweet Sixteen for the ninth straight time after defeating both #12 McNeese (86-65) and #4 Kansas (89-68) by 21.

Over their last 12 games, the Bulldogs are 11-1 SU and 8-4 ATS, and their wins at Kentucky and Saint Mary’s came with them as an underdog, which they are for this matchup.

However, a Gonzaga team has not won an NCAA Tournament game since 2014, when the Bulldogs defeated Oklahoma State in a round of 64 matchup as a four-point underdog.

Of course, it’s not often that they find themselves in this position, so that statistic is not as glaring as it looks.

That said, to change it will take some doing. Purdue was outstanding in the first two rounds and having faced and beaten Gonzaga earlier in the season, they have familiarity that teams don’t always have at this stage of the season.

This season, the Boilermakers are 9-4 SU and 7-5-1 ATS when favored by single digits. When they met the Bulldogs in the Maui Invitational, they were a five-point favorite and came through in a 73-63 win.

I love what I have seen from Gonzaga since they lost to Saint Mary’s at home last month, and I think they will play Purdue closer than they did in November.

In fact, I like the Bulldogs to take the win tonight in Detroit.

Prediction: Gonzaga to cover and win

Gonzaga vs Purdue Best Bets

Gonzaga +5.5 & Gonzaga team total over 74.5 (-110 at Bovada)

In the first meeting between the two teams, Gonzaga led by five at halftime but went cold offensively in the second half. With 15:39 left, they led 43-40. Over the next 12 minutes, Purdue outscored them 26-12 to take control of the game and render any late rally meaningless.

So, the Bulldogs know that they can hang with the Boilermakers. And with how things have been clicking against teams not named Saint Mary’s, I think we’ll see a better 40 minutes on that end of the court than we did in the first meeting with Purdue.

Entering last night, Arizona, Iowa State, and North Carolina had all won both of their first and second round games by double digits, looked like they would be tough to beat, then exited the tournament.

Purdue was dominant in the first two rounds, but the Boilermakers are not unbeatable, especially against a team that knows from experience that they have what it takes to compete.

Interested in placing a bet on those Gonzaga team total odds? At Bovada, you can get a 75% welcome bonus if your first deposit is with a cryptocurrency (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Tether, etc.)

More March Madness Betting Information

Where Can You Bet on March Madness This Year?

Each year, millions upon of millions of March Madness bets are placed at the top online sports betting sites.

Most March Madness betting takes place around and at tournament time, which is from mid-March to early April. But throughout the year, you can bet on who you think will win the college basketball national championship.

Along with men’s college basketball odds, most good sportsbooks now carry women’s college basketball national championship odds, which are drawing a lot of attention this season with the likes of South Carolina, Iowa, and LSU vying to cut down the nets in Cleveland, Ohio on April 7.

Numerous sportsbooks are good for March Madness betting, but in addition to BetOnline, here are some of the books that we have reviewed and highly recommend:

• BetDSI (Review)
• BetUS (Review)
• Bovada (Review)
• MyBookie (Review)

If you are unfamiliar with any of the above sites, check out our sportsbook reviews to learn more about them. Speaking of offers, keep an eye on the latest sportsbook offers from these books and others as the countdown to the opening tip of March Madness continues. That way, you will not miss out on any special sports betting promos and bonuses to pad your bankroll for March Madness betting.

Other March Madness Content at Betting News

If you like this Alabama vs North Carolina betting breakdown and would like to check out our other March Madness content, our March Madness guide is where you can find it all in one tidy place. But here’s a rundown of some of what we have put together to help you with your NCAA Tournament betting this year.

We’re also covering the 2024 NIT, so check out that content as well.

• Men’s March Madness Futures Odds
• Women’s March Madness Futures Odds
• 2024 Men’s Final Four Odds
• Six Men’s March Madness Sleepers for 2024
• Best March Madness Betting Tips & Strategies
• Where to Find the Best March Madness Betting Picks
• Best March Madness Betting Sites for This Year
• This Year’s Best March Madness Bracket Challenges
• Betting News Bracket Mania (Our FREE March Madness Bracket Challenge!)

Interested in Learning More About Betting on March Madness & NCAA Basketball?

If you are interested in learning more about betting on men’s or women’s NCAA basketball, check out our college basketball betting guide. It covers the basics of wagering on March Madness, the Mountain West, the MAAC, McNeese State, and beyond.

• College Basketball Betting Guide: How to Bet on NCAA Basketball in 2024

Also, follow Betting News on X/Twitter, Twitch, and TikTok to get more March Madness and NCAA basketball insight from myself and the rest of our team. We’re cooking up a lot of great NCAA Tournament content for both the men’s and women’s tournaments, so hit those links so you don’t miss out on any of it.

• Betting News on “X”/Twitter
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