Purdue vs. CS-Fullerton 2018 March Madness Odds & Pick

On Friday afternoon, the second-seeded Purdue Boilermakers face the 15th-seeded Titans of Cal State-Fullerton in the first round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. The Titans only went 10-6 in Big West play during the season but won the conference, taking the automatic bid by knocking off UC-Irvine in the tournament final. Purdue put together a 15-3 record in Big Ten play this season but fell to Michigan in the Big Ten tournament championship. Take a look at our March Madness odds preview for this first-round tilt.

Purdue vs. CS-Fullerton 2018 March Madness Odds & Pick

Tune in right here for our #MatchMadness press conference in about 10 minutes. #BoilerUp 🚂https://t.co/b9iNYIHw9W

— Purdue Men’s Basketball (@BoilerBall) March 15, 2018

When: Friday, March 16, 2018, 12:40pm ET Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit TV: truTV Radio: None Live Stream: March Madness Live March Madness Odds: Purdue -20.5

Why should you bet on the Boilermakers?

Purdue did ride a strong inside game and superior guard play to a terrific record in the Big Ten and a solid performance in the Big Ten tournament. One area of concern is the team’s defense, as Michigan was able to make 50% of their shots from the field. Center Isaac Haas was terrific in the loss, putting up 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting and pulling down eight boards. That gives him 40 points overall in his last two games, as he has shot 62% from the floor. The Boilermakers’ leading scorer, Carsen Edwards, has found a new gear down the stretch, averaging over 24 points in his last seven games and drilling a total of a dozen three-balls in his last three games. They score 81.1 points per game, as their guards have given them a dimension of quickness that they have lacked in the past few seasons. While Purdue has done a lot of winning this season, though, they have not done so well when the spread is concerned. They have covered just once in their last 13 games, and in their last seven games against a team with a winning percentage higher than .600, they haven’t covered the spread at all. In their last 10 games coming after a loss against the spread, they have only covered the spread once. If you like Purdue, then you see them making some adjustments and taking advantage of a mid-major team, but 20.5 points is a mammoth spread for a team that struggles on defense.

Why should you put your money on the Titans?

Cal State-Fullerton put the defensive clamps on UC-Irvine to win the Big West tournament, rolling to a 71-55 victory. They held UC-Irvine to just 31% shooting on the floor and handled their own ball security quite well, turning the ball over just five times. On the season, their defense has not been as strong as it was in the tournament, as they have permitted 70 points per game — and they have only scored 73.2 points per game, so they haven’t had much of a margin of victory overall. In the Big West title game, Kyle Allman went 8 for 16 and put up 26 points, giving him 20 or more points in seven of his last nine games. The Titans have covered the spread in each of their last four games against teams outside the Big West, and five of their last six games overall. In their last five games against a team with a record above .500, they have covered the spread four times. They shoot the ball well, averaging 47% for the season, and they’re playing a Purdue team that showed some weaknesses on defense in the Big Ten tournament, giving up 75 points in their win over lowly Rutgers. The Titans have only allowed 107 points in their last two games combined.

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

I’m very impressed with the resume that Purdue has put together on the season. However, I don’t know that they have the defensive fortitude right now to beat a plucky Cal State-Fullerton team by more than 20. I predict a final score of Purdue 85, Cal State-Fullerton 71.