After surviving the First Four, SWAC champion and No. 16 seed Grambling moves on to the field of 64 to face top-seed Purdue on Friday, March 22, at 7:25 p.m. ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Will Purdue rebound after being eliminated last tournament against No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson?
Read on as we break down both teams and give our best bets for this NCAA Tournament Midwest Region opener. Don’t miss our best ways to use Round 1 March Madness betting promos to build your tickets for this one.
📈 Purdue vs. Grambling Odds
Purdue-Grambling State lines were found at bet365 Sportsbook and current as of Friday at 4:30 p.m. ET:
- Moneyline: Purdue (-8000), Grambling (+1800)
- Spread: Purdue -27 (-110), Grambling +27 (-100)
- Total points: Over 139 (-110), Under 139 (-110)
Grambling rallied from a 14-point deficit to beat Montana State in overtime in the First Four, a seminal moment for a program that had never been to the NCAA Tournament.
It was worth celebrating. But that’s the extent of it.
Say what you will about the past and Purdue’s propensity for coming up small in March. It’s true, the Boilermakers (29-4) have wilted under pressure. Still, the reality is that this is a monumental mismatch, and the Tigers (21-14) have no answer for 7-foot-4 Zach Edey.
🔮 Purdue vs. Grambling Prediction
Purdue 89, Grambling 59
Grambling seems to be peaking at the right time, having won four straight and 10 of its last 11 games. But that should not matter here.
Expect Purdue to start fast and build a substantial lead early, wiping away any suspicion of the Boilermakers falling victim to another huge upset.
✅ Purdue vs. Grambling Best Bet
Purdue -27 (-110)
bet365 Sportsbook • 1 Unit
Purdue is an obvious overwhelming favorite after yet another dominant season in the Big Ten, led by Zach Edey and the sharpshooting Braden Smith. A worthy No. 1 seed, the Boilermakers are superbly balanced and sport great offensive depth.
The Boilermakers have been cold ATS, going 1-4 in March and just 3-7 over their last 10 games. Keep in mind, that was largely against the meat of the Big Ten, which Grambling is not.
Ranking 332nd nationally in rebounding, the Tigers stand no chance on the glass or, for that matter, on the scoreboard.
💰 Purdue vs. Grambling Betting Promos
There’s nothing quite like the first Thursday and Friday of March Madness. How can you beat watching 32 matchups in a 36-hour window? Try wagering some cold hard cash on some of these matchups using the awesome sportsbook promotions below.
BetMGM Purdue-Grambling March Madness Promo
With the promo code LWOS, new BetMGM users can claim a Bet & Get offer that gives new users $150 in bonus bets whether their first wager wins or loses.
Since you’ll get your bet back anyway if it loses, why not sprinkle some money on a +2000 longshot like Grambling to pull off the massive upset?
To take advantage of this offer, sign up using the bonus code LWOS and make your first deposit of at least $10. Initial wagers must be at least $5 to qualify.
bet365 Purdue-Grambling Seed March Madness Promo
Bet365 Sportsbook is allowing new users to pick their preferred offer for March Madness using promo code LWOSBONUS:
- Bet $5, Get $150
- $1,000 First Bet Safety Net
Bettors who select the first option will receive $150 in bonus bets when they place their first wager of $5 or more on any market. Like BetMGM, they’ll receive the bonus credits regardless of whether they win or lose.
Those who select the second option will receive a bonus bet up to $1,000 if their original wager loses.
Are you confident in Purdue’s ability to cover -26.5? Now’s a good time to take advantage of one of these bet365 promos. When you sign up, use bet365 bonus code LWOSBONUS and then choose the offer of your choice.
📋 How To Claim Purdue vs. Grambling Betting Promos
- Click to find your preferred Purdue vs. Grambling March Madness sportsbook.
- Sign up by providing personal and banking details.
- Confirm any geolocation service required for registration.
- Deposit the minimum to become eligible for your desired betting promotion. (Some sportsbooks require bettors to deposit a minimum of only $5 to qualify.)
- Make your first wager.
- Wait for any bonus funds or other rewards to enter your account funds after fulfilling the betting requirements.