Purdue (34-4) vs Connecticut (36-3)
When: Monday, April 8th, 2024
Where: State Farm Stadium,
Glendale, AZ
Time: 9:20 ET | TV: CBS
Opening Odds: Connecticut -5/147.5
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The Connecticut Huskies look to become the first team to repeat as National Champions since 2006-2007 when they take on the Purdue Boilermakers on Monday night. The Huskies opened as 5-point favorite but that quickly moved to 6.5 and that’s where it sits as of Sunday afternoon. The total is 147.5 and these two teams are a combined 9-1 to the Under in this tournament.
Neither team has had much trouble getting to Monday’s championship game. Purdue had a tough Elite Eight game against Tennessee, but ultimately won and covered the spread. On Saturday, the Boilermakers handled an upstart NC State team 63-50 in what was a defensive gem. Purdue is now 11-1 straight up in neutral site games this season and 5-1 SU in their last six games against Big East opponents. They’re 22-15-1 against the spread for the year and have covered all five tournament games.
The Huskies have also covered each of their five wins including a 86-72 victory over Alabama in the Final Four on Saturday. Connecticut also covered all six games en route to winning the 2023 national championship. The Huskies have won all five previous appearances in the title game, so history is on their side. They are a perfect 12-0 SU in neutral site games and they enter Monday’s game on a 12-game win streak overall.
PURDUE BOILERMAKERS
Purdue has bounced back strong and proved doubters wrong after a shocking first-round loss against Fairleigh Dickinson in last year’s tournament. The Boilermakers reach the national title game by taking out No. 16 Grambling State, No. 8 Utah State, No. 5 Gonzaga and No. 2 Tennessee before Saturday’s win over No. 11 NC State. Zach Edey continues to dominate the tournament, finishing with a game-high 20 points and 12 rebounds on Saturday. For the tournament, Edey is averaging 28 points and 15.4 rebounds.
CONNECTICUT HUSKIES
The Huskies won their first five games of March Madness by an average of 25.0 ppg. They reached their second straight national title game with victories over No. 16 Stetson, No. 9 Northwestern, No. 5 San Diego State, No. 3 Illinois and No. 4 Alabama. Five different players scored in double figures on Saturday. Stephon Castle finished with a game-high 21 points, while Donavan Clingan had 18. Cam Spencer and and Alex Karaban each put up 14 points and eight rebounds. Clingan, who is 7-foot-2, has 3.6 blocks per game this tournament and could give Edey some fits.
PREDICTION
It all comes down to experience for me and UConn has the big advantage. Also, they have won their last 11 March Madness games by double-digits, so I only have to lay 6.5 here? Clingan is the best big man Edey will see all season and Purdue is going to have to rely on the supporting cast. I really think the Purdue offense will have trouble getting things going against a pretty stingy Huskies defense.
Pick: Connecticut -6.5
