A trip to the Final Four is on the line when the second-seeded Tennessee Volunteers battle the top-seeded Purdue Boilermakers in the 2024 NCAA Tournament on Sunday. The Volunteers (27-8), who have never made it to the Final Four, are taking part in their second Elite Eight matchup and first since 2010. The Boilermakers (32-4), who have made it to the Final Four twice – 1969 and 1980 – are taking part in their sixth Elite Eight and first since 2019. Purdue, who holds a 4-2 edge in the all-time series, has won the last two meetings with Tennessee, including a 71-67 win at the Maui Invitational on Nov. 21.
Tip-off from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit is set for 2:20 p.m. ET. The Boilermakers are 3.5-point favorites in the latest Tennessee vs. Purdue odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 147.5. Before making any Purdue vs. Tennessee picks, be sure to see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from SportsLine expert Bruce Marshall.
For years Vegas-based Bruce Marshall was synonymous with The Gold Sheet, the famed sports betting newsletter. With a background in play-by-play work and sports information while in college, Bruce joined TGS in 1981 when hired by the legendary Mort Olshan and served as executive editor for many years. Marshall now supplies his unique and colorful brand of football and basketball analysis to SportsLine members. Marshall heads into the Elite Eight of the 2024 NCAA Tournament on a 49-32-1 college basketball run that has netted $100 followers $1,390. Anyone who has followed him is way up.
Now, he has his sights on Tennessee vs. Purdue in the 2024 Elite Eight and just locked in his picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for Purdue vs. Tennessee:
- Tennessee vs. Purdue spread: Purdue -3.5
- Tennessee vs. Purdue over/under: 147.5 points
- Tennessee vs. Purdue money line: Tennessee +139, Purdue -166
- TEN: The Volunteers are 10-5 ATS in their last 15 games
- PUR: The Boilermakers are 7-1 in their last eight games played in March
- Tennessee vs. Purdue picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Purdue can cover
Senior center Zach Edey has been virtually unstoppable. In three NCAA Tournament games this year, he has 80 points, 49 rebounds and six assists. He has had at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in four consecutive NCAA Tournament games, the second-longest streak in NCAA history. For the season, he is averaging 24.6 points, 12.1 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 2.1 assists per game.
Sophomore guard Braden Smith is also coming off a double-double with 14 points and 15 assists in the Sweet 16 win over Gonzaga. He also added eight rebounds and one steal. He's had two double-doubles in the past three games. He had 11 points and 10 assists in the first-round win over Grambling. In 36 games, all starts, he is averaging 12.3 points, 7.5 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 33.6 minutes. See which team to pick at SportsLine.
Why Tennessee can cover
Junior forward Jonas Aidoo has reached double-digit scoring in two of the Volunteers' three NCAA Tournament games. In the 83-49 first-round win over Saint Peter's, he scored 15 points and added six rebounds and three blocked shots. He poured in 11 points, four rebounds, three assists and two blocks in a 62-58 win over Texas in the second round. In 35 games, all starts, he is averaging 11.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 25.1 minutes.
Senior guard Josiah-Jordan James is coming off a 15-point, four-rebound and two-assist performance in Friday's win over Creighton. He has reached double-digit scoring 13 times this season, including three double-doubles. He scored 11 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in an 81-74 win at Alabama on March 2. In 35 games, all starts, he scored 8.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.3 steals in 29.1 minutes. See which team to pick at SportsLine.
How to make Purdue vs. Tennessee picks
Marshall is leaning Over on the point total. He has also discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread. He's only sharing what it is, and which side to back, at SportsLine.
So who wins Tennessee vs. Purdue in the 2024 Elite Eight, and what critical X-factor makes one side of the spread a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the expert on a 49-32 roll on his college basketball best bets, and find out.
