Purdue vs. Gonzaga Odds, Picks, and Predictions

• Gonzaga has advanced to their 9th straight Sweet 16

• Purdue has lost to a 13, 15, and 16 seed in the past three tournaments 

• The winner of this game will face either Creighton or Tennessee in the Elite 8

Gonzaga and Purdue will compete in the first of two Sweet 16 matchups in the Midwest Region. The winner of this game will face either Creighton or Tennessee, who will battle in the nightcap in the Elite 8. 

The Midwest was given to Purdue before the NCAA Tournament started. They had the most accessible road to the Final Four of all the top seeds, but Gonzaga is no easy contest.

The Bulldogs have struggled to finish in the NCAA Tournament, but they have been to nine straight Sweet 16 games. The entire roster knows how to handle the big stage, while Purdue has crumbled consistently early in March Madness. 

Here, we will break down Gonzaga vs. Purdue and give our best bet for the game.

Sports Betting Promos for Purdue vs. Gonzaga

We have partnered with the best sportsbooks in the betting industry to give our readers exceptional bonuses. Check out some of the March Madness bonuses offered for March Madness at DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, and bet365.

Purdue vs. Gonzaga Prediction and Odds 

Purdue Boilermakers Preview

Purdue has yet to do anything but come up short in the Zach Edey era. In 2021, they were beaten by #13 North Texas. They followed this up with a loss to #15 St. Peters in the 2022 NCAA Tournament. Things got even worse for the Boilermakers in 2023. 

Purdue lost to 16th-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson, becoming the second #1 seed to lose to a #16 seed in NCAA Tournament history. Edey has been fantastic in the NCAA Tournament, and this Purdue team looks hard to beat. 

However, we can’t trust the Boilermakers based on what they have done in the past few years. Purdue has a significant advantage over Gonzaga in multiple areas. 

The Boilermakers rank third overall in the KenPom Ratings. They’re third in adjusted offensive efficiency and 16th in adjusted defensive efficiency. Purdue has thrived because Edey hasn’t been challenged in March, so look for Gonzaga to make the big man uncomfortable.

Gonzaga Bulldogs Preview

The Gonzaga Bulldogs always have talented teams, but they can’t finish. The 2024 roster is one of the least talented Bulldog teams we have seen in years, but they’re back in the Sweet 16. 

Despite this, they have only been to two Final Fours and have never won a National Championship. Gonzaga has struggled to find a closer who can win big games in the past decade. 

There aren’t many stars on Gonzaga’s team, but Graham Ike is the player who must have the game of his life to give the Bulldogs a chance. Ike is a 6’9” forward who leads the Bulldogs in scoring with 16.4 points per game.

He is coming off a 15-point game against Kansas, where he shot 63.6% from the field and recorded nine boards. His size tormented the Jayhawks in the second half, but he is undersized against Zach Edey. 

Ike will be tasked with neutralizing Edey throughout the game. The Bulldog has an athletic advantage over Edey, but he needs to stay out of foul trouble. If Ike heads to the bench early, Purdue should dominate the paint. 

Purdue vs. Gonzaga Pick

• PICK: Purdue -5.5 (-115) at FanDuel Sportsbook

Edey holds the keys to Purdue's kingdom. If Gonzaga can make him move and not allow him to camp in the paint, they will be fine in this contest. 

The Bulldogs also must do an excellent job hitting their floaters. They don’t have to make them all but must hit a high percentage. Yet, we don’t trust Gonzaga with how their current roster is constructed. 

Even though the Boilermakers tend to lose the big game, they will be fine in the Sweet 16. 

How to Watch Purdue vs. Gonzaga

• When: Friday, March 29th @ 7:39 PM ET

• Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan

• TV: truTV

• Streaming: March Madness App