The Purdue Boilermakers are not about to go down without a fight. Purdue knows it has its best chance to win a basketball title since the 1980s with this roster, and the Boilermakers are ready to show that they can still play.
Meanwhile, the Texas Tech Red Raiders are looking to make their first Elite Eight appearance ever. Texas Tech has gotten to the Sweet 16 five times before this, but the school has yet to go any further. A win in just Chris Beard’s second season would be monumental for the program.
This war on the floor will go down Friday, March 23, 2018, at 9:55 p.m. ET at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The game will be televised live on TBS. We'll have NCAA basketball odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game throughout March Madness.
Opening NCAAB Basketball Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Texas Tech +1.5
Purdue -1.5
Over/Under 137.5
Purdue may not have won the Big Ten in the regular season or the postseason, but the Boilermakers are looking like the conference’s best chance to win it all. However, the Boilermakers have struggled with putting teams away late in games recently. Purdue is just 2-7 ATS per the CBB betting odds over its last nine games. That inability to cover against weaker opponents shouldn’t hurt them the rest of the way though as lines in Purdue games should be tight the rest of the way.
One of the few teams with a worse ATS record than Purdue recently is Texas Tech. The Red Raiders are just 1-7-1 ATS over their last nine games, with five outright losses. They have played a number of close games though, with six of the last nine being decided one way or the other by four points or less.
Key Injury
Incredibly, Purdue will be looking to show off its academic credentials somewhat in this game. Purdue is known as an engineering university, and the basketball team has already asked its Engineering Department to design an NCAA-approved brace that would allow Isaac Haas to play for the rest of the tournament.
At 7’2, 290 pounds, Haas is the biggest contributor left in the NCAA Tournament and he has been a force inside for the Boilermakers all season long. Haas is who Purdue turns to for a quick bucket, and his long reach can disrupt guards when they drive the paint.
In Purdue’s first round game, Haas fractured his elbow and he was initially declared out for the season. However, subsequent tests determined that he could play if his arm was supported. That would be a huge positive for the Boilermakers.
Player to Watch
Keenan Evans has had an incredible season for Texas Tech, and he will be looking to get the school further than it has ever come before. Evans has been the driving force of this offense thus far in the NCAA Tournament, just like he has been all season. He went 6-10 from the floor against Stephen F. Austin in the First Round, and was even better against Florida, going 8-14 from the field.
Importantly, he has been able to hit his threes this time of the year. Evans’ three-point shooting has fallen from 43.2 percent last season to 32.9 percent this season, but he is 4-6 over his two games thus far in the NCAA Tournament.
Free March Madness ATS Picks
Incredibly this will be the first time that Texas Tech and Purdue have met on the basketball court. Although Purdue has a richer tradition, both teams have not had an abundance of success recently, magnifying the importance of this game.
Purdue will win the battle in this one though thanks to Carsen Edwards. He is the team’s best player and has led the team recently despite being a sophomore. He’ll have a solid game against Edwards, keying the win.
NCAAB Basketball Betting Odds: Purdue 71, Texas Tech 64
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