The Purdue Boilermakers (34-4) and UConn Huskies (36-3) meet in Monday’s National Championship Game. Tip-off from State Farm Arena in Glendale, Ariz., is slated for 9:20 p.m. ET (TBS). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s'lines around the Purdue vs. UConn odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
The No. 1 seed out of the Midwest Region, the Purdue Boilermakers, rolled off 5 consecutive wins and covers in the NCAA Tournament. They topped 16th-seeded Grambling 78-50 in the 1st round as 27-point favorites with the Under (137.5) cashing. They walloped 8th-seeded Utah State 106-67 in the 2nd round as 11.5-point favorites with the Over (150.5) hitting, and they ousted No. 5 seed Gonzaga 80-68 in the Sweet 16 as 4.5-point favorites as the Under (155.5) connected.
Purdue saved its best basketball for the Elite 8 and Final Four, though, really applying the defense against No. 2 seed Tennessee in the quarterfinals and 11th-seeded NC State in the semis. The Boilers were 3-point favorites in a 72-66 win vs. the Volunteers as the Under (148) hit, and they beat the Wolfpack 63-50 in a defensive battle to cover as 9.5-point favorites with the Under (147) coming in, helping them advance to the title game.
Just a season ago, the Boilermakers became the 2nd team in NCAA Tourney history — joining Virginia — to lose in the 1st round as a No. 16 seed, getting upset by Fairleigh Dickinson. Virginia lost to No. 16 seed UMBC in 2018, but the next season, the Cavaliers used that loss as motivation, rolling to the national title in 2019. Purdue is looking to do the same.