One year after getting bounced from the NCAA Tournament as a top seed, the Boilermakers are back and ready to roll. No. 16 Grambling (21-14) will take on No. 1 Purdue (29-4) in one of the late games of Friday’s March Madness slate.
Sports bettors will undoubtedly be flocking to bet against the Boilermakers, and one of the best places to do so is DraftKings Sportsbook. Even if your first bet loses, DraftKings will reward you with $150 in bonus bets to put toward March Madness.
Find more about this March Madness promo and Grambling vs. Purdue below.
No. 16 Grambling vs. No. 1 Purdue Odds
- Spread: Grambling +26.5 (-110) • Purdue -26.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Grambling (+2000) • Purdue (-6500)
- Total: Over 138.5 (-112) • Under 138.5 (-108)
Grambling is a massive 26.5-point favorite, but that likely won’t deter people from betting the moneyline at (+2000). Despite its strength, Purdue has been eliminated by a 13 seed or greater in each of the last three NCAA Tournaments.
The Tigers’ slow tempo is one of the main reasons why the total is set at just 138.5 points. The Boilermakers rank No. 4 in KenPom’s adjusted offensive efficiency rating, so the majority of scoring should come from Zach Edey’s side.
Grambling vs. Purdue Prediction
Purdue was one of the top teams in the nation throughout the regular season, ranking no lower than No. 4 in the AP poll. The Boilermakers also went undefeated against some of the best programs in the NCAA Tournament, including Arizona, Tennessee, Alabama, Illinois, Marquette, Michigan State, and Gonzaga.
However, for reasons that shouldn’t have to be explained, it remains difficult to trust them. Purdue’s inconsistency and lack of a killer instinct during March Madness has been its downfall in each of the last three years. In the simplest terms, the Boilermakers have played not to lose rather than to win.
Grambling is the latest team with a chance to pull off a monster upset, but it won’t be easy. The Tigers don’t quite have the size to compete with Edey in the paint or on the glass, and they posted one of the nation’s lowest three-point attempt rates during the regular season.
It’s hard to resist picking the upset, but Purdue has every reason to dominate this game. Hold off on calling for their elimination for now.
Grambling vs. Purdue Best Bets
Purdue -26.5 (-110) vs Grambling
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 Unit
Maybe I’m a fool for thinking Purdue will finally turn it around, but any other No. 1 seed would be the clear and obvious choice in this situation. Grambling played six NCAA Tournament teams this season, and it lost each matchup by an average margin of 31 points.
So long as the Boilermakers come out with the right mindset, they should cruise to a comfortable victory over the Tigers.
Under 138.5 Points (-110)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 Unit
Grambling’s desire to play at a slow tempo and Purdue’s preference to score inside the arc should make this a relatively low-scoring contest. Whether the Boilermakers achieve the blowout or the Tigers pull off a historic upset, the Under should be in play at 138.5 points.
Grambling vs. Purdue: Best Betting Promo
Join DraftKings Sportsbook today and you’ll get $150 in bonus bets once you place a first-time bet of $5 or more on Grambling vs. Purdue — even if your bet loses.
Simply create your account and wager at least $5 on the NCAA Tournament. Win or lose, you’ll be rewarded with $150 in bonus bets, paid as six tokens worth $25 apiece. You can use these instead of real cash on any wager, and all of the additional winnings will be yours to keep.
Even if you don’t believe Grambling can win, it would be best to place your first-time $5 bet on the Tigers to pull off the upset. You’ll get your bonus bets either way, and a $5 wager would pay out an additional $105 on top of the $150 bonus.
Any unused bonus bets will expire once they’ve been in your account for seven days.
