Teams looking to reach the Elite Eight meet when Zach Edey and the top-seeded Purdue Boilermakers face the fifth-seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs in a 2024 NCAA Tournament Midwest Region Sweet 16 matchup on Friday. The Bulldogs (27-7), who are looking to reach the Elite Eight for the second year in a row and seventh time overall, are competing in the tournament for the 26th time. The Boilermakers (31-4), who last reached the Elite 8 in 2019, are in the tournament for the 35th time and ninth in a row. Purdue, which leads the all-time series 4-0, defeated Gonzaga 73-63 on Nov. 20 at the Maui Invitational.
Tipoff from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit is scheduled for 7:40 p.m. ET. Gonzaga has the fourth-best point differential in the country at plus-16.2, while Purdue is 10th-best at plus-13.6. The Boilermakers are 5-point favorites in the latest Gonzaga vs. Purdue odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 154.5. Before entering any Purdue vs. Gonzaga picks, make sure you see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters the Sweet 16 round of the 2024 NCAA tournament on a 152-109 roll on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to last season, returning more than $1,800 for $100 players. It also has a strong 32-21 (+890) record on top-rated spread picks this season, and it called 13 Sweet 16 teams this year. Anyone following has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Purdue vs. Gonzaga and revealed its March Madness picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for Gonzaga vs. Purdue:
- Purdue vs. Gonzaga spread: Purdue -5
- Purdue vs. Gonzaga over/under: 154.5 points
- Purdue vs. Gonzaga money line: Gonzaga +183, Purdue -223
- GON: The Bulldogs are 5-1 ATS in their last six games
- PUR: The Boilermakers are 10-1 in their last 11 games against an opponent from the West Coast Conference
- Purdue vs. Gonzaga picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Purdue can cover
Senior guard Lance Jones has been a solid contributor all season. The fifth-year player, who is in his first year with the Boilermakers after four seasons at Southern Illinois, has started 34 games and is averaging 12.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, two assists and 1.4 steals in 28.3 minutes. He scored nine points, while adding four assists and three rebounds in the second-round win over Utah State. He has registered double-digit scoring in 22 games, including a season-high 26 points in a 105-96 overtime win over Northwestern on Jan. 31.
Sophomore guard Fletcher Loyer poured in 15 points and dished out six assists in Sunday's second-round win over Utah State. He has reached double-digit scoring in 18 games on the year, including a season-high 27 points twice. The last time came in a 92-84 win over then-No. 1 Arizona on Dec. 16. In 34 games, all starts, Loyer is averaging 10.4 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 27.1 minutes. See which team to pick here.
Why Gonzaga can cover
Junior guard Nolan Hickman is one of six Bulldogs averaging 9.2 points or better on the season. In 34 games, all starts, he is averaging 13.9 points, 2.7 assists, 2.3 rebounds and one steal in 35.2 minutes. He came up big in Saturday's win over Kansas in the second round, scoring 17 points, while adding three rebounds and two assists in 35 minutes of play. He scored 11 points in the first-round win over McNeese.
Also powering Gonzaga is junior guard Ryan Nembhard, who has registered seven double-doubles on the year, including three in the past five games. He scored five points, but dished out 12 assists and grabbed five rebounds in the second-round win over Kansas. He nearly had a double-double in the first round, scoring eight points, while adding nine assists and two boards against McNeese. In 34 games, all starts, he is averaging 12.6 points, 6.9 assists, four rebounds and 1.2 steals in 35.6 minutes. See which team to pick here.
How to make Gonzaga vs. Purdue picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting at least 157 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in almost 60% of simulations. You can only see the model's picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Purdue vs. Gonzaga, and which side of the spread hits nearly 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model on a 32-21 roll on top-ranked college basketball spread picks, and find out.
