Saint Peter’s Peacocks vs Purdue Boilermakers Betting Preview/Prop Pick

The biggest story in the NCAA Tournament has been the Saint Peter’s Peacocks, as they are in the Sweet 16 as a number 15 seed. Saint Peter’s will now meet up with the Purdue Boilermakers on Friday night for a chance to advance to the Elite Eight. 

Not only are the Peacocks playing well in the NCAA Tournament, but this team has now won nine straight games overall. Saint Peter’s stunned Kentucky in the First Round and then held on to get past Murray State in the Second Round.

Purdue is the number three seed in the East, but they are one of the best teams in the country. The Boilermakers have just seven losses on the year, and they continue to have favorable betting odds to win the NCAA title. 

The Purdue Boilermakers are 12.5-point betting favorites over the Saint Peter’s Peacocks in the Sweet 16. 

Defense Must Dominate For Peacocks

If Saint Peter’s is going to pull off another double-digit upset, then they are going to have to get it done on the defensive end of the floor. The Peacocks are giving up right around 70 points per game during this run, but they have to keep this game in the 60s. 

Saint Peter’s is a very veteran team, and the backcourt has been taking control late in games during this run. The Peacocks are scoring just 67.5 points per game this season, and there are still some questions about this offense. 

Daryl Banks III leads this team in scoring, but he is averaging just 11.4 points per game. It’s going to take a huge effort from some members of the Peacocks team to win this one. 

Purdue Wants to Play Fast

Purdue is comfortable winning games in a variety of ways, but look for them to speed up the tempo in this one. The Boilermakers are scoring nearly 80 points per game, and they have the weapons and depth to wear down Saint Peter’s. 

Jaden Ivey leads the way for Purdue with 17.6 points per game, but he is good enough to score 30 in this matchup. Purdue also has two terrific players down low, and the Boilermakers have a clear size advantage in this one. 

Purdue doesn’t always focus on the defensive end of the floor, but the Boilermakers have experience guarding great teams in the Big Ten. The Boilermakers should have a solid effort on both ends in this matchup. 

Purdue Pounds the Peacocks

Most of the games in the Sweet 16 are going to come down to the final few possessions, but that won’t be the case in this matchup. Saint Peter’s has been on a remarkable run up to this point, but that magic is going to come to an end in a big way.

The Peacocks have been able to make clutch shots during this run, but they won’t be in a position to take or make clutch shots on Friday night. Saint Peter’s simply has no answers for the offense of Purdue, and this one might get out of hand by halftime.

Take the Purdue Boilermakers as the number three seed moves on to the Elite Eight by picking up a near 20 point victory.

Prop Pick

Purdue (-105) OVER 74.5 Points

Purdue is averaging 80.7 points per game on offense, which ranks No. 7 in the nation, while shooting 49.7 percent from the field, which ranks No. 3. Scores have gone OVER in five of the Boilermakers’ last six NCAA tournament games.

With Dunkel predicting a Purdue victory by the score of 80-62, take the Boilermakers (-105) to finish OVER their Vegas team total of 74.5 points against the Peacocks.

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