Purdue Boilermakers versus Kansas Jayhawks Sweet Sixteen betting preview
Time: 9:35 PM
Place: Sprint Center – Kansas City, MO
March madness odds:
Purdue +5 (-110) 157 (-110) +180 812
Kansas -5 (-110) 157 (-110) -220
How they got here
The B-Makers beat Iowa State in the second round of the NCAA tournament on Saturday for their first Sweet 16 in six years. Purdue shot 31 for 64 (48%) and had 27 assists on 31 field goals. Vince Edwards had 21 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists, and Caleb Swanigan added 20 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists. Kansas defeated Michigan State 90-70 to clinch a spot in the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive season. Josh Jackson had 23 points, and Frank Mason III scored 20 and Devonte Graham 18, while Landen Lucas grabbed 11 rebounds.
Match-up history
Kansas is 3-1 against Purdue in the series between the two schools. The Jayhawks beat Purdue 60-52 in 1949-50, 75-61 in the 1996-97 season, and 63-60 in 2011-12. The Boilermakers got their only victory so far in the 1993-94 season, an 83-78 win.
Players to watch
Swanigan is averaging 18.5 points, 12.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game, and in the win against the Cyclones he became the first major-college player to record 600 points, 400 rebounds and 100 assists in a season in the past 25 years. Additionally, Isaac Haas has been putting on the intangible work. And while all eyes in the house will be steadfastly set upon both Josh Jackson and FM3 – the latter of whom is a co-favorite to win the Most Outstanding Player award – Landen Lucas has posted three straight double-doubles all the while shooting 66.7%.
March madness betting trends
The Boilermakers have gone 0-7 SU in their last seven games as an underdog, including three this very season. March madness odds assure us that Kansas is good to win, cover, and more than likely go over the total – as in four of the J-Hawks’ last five games.
What to expect
The Jayhawks will not only be the favourites as far as gambling goes, but will also have home field advantage for all intents and purposes – the Sprint Center is a stone’s throw away from Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence. In other words, Toto, we’re still in Kansas. The J-Hawks grab more rebounds than the Boilers, but the latter shoot more treys than the former.
This just in
According to the Kansas City Star, “the Midwest Regional at the Sprint Center involving Kansas, Purdue, Oregon and Michigan is the toughest ticket in the NCAA Tournament.” So much so that the Kansas University athletics department can hardly keep up with the demand. Once again, most of the attendants – some of whom will figuratively be hanging from the proverbial rafters – will be rooting for the Jayhawks.
What’s next
The winner of this semifinal, which barring an unheard-of upset of the march madness odds, will be Kansas, will move on to face either Michigan Oregon – and in either case the Jayhawks are bound to remain the march madness betting favourites. Hey, favorites gonna fave.