Saint Peter’s Peacocks vs. Purdue Boilermakers Picks, Predictions, Odds

Dave Schwab Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

The MAAC’s Saint Peter’s Peacocks continue their Cinderella run through this year’s NCAA Tournament with Friday’s Sweet 16 matchup against the Big Ten’s Purdue Boilermakers in the East Region. Game time on CBS from Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center is set for 7:09 p.m. (ET).

Score Prediction

Purdue 69, Saint Peter’s 60

Best Bet

Saint Peter’s +12.5 (-110)

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SAINT PETER’S PEACOCKS vs. PURDUE BOILERMAKERS PREDICTIONS

When it comes to upsets, Saint Peter’s has been the big story through the first two rounds. After stunning Kentucky by six-points as 18.5-point longshots, the Peacocks knocked off Murray State by 10-points getting eight on the closing line. The team’s current straight-up winning streak stands at nine games.

Purdue lost the Big Ten Tournament title game to Iowa by nine points as a 2.5-point favorite. As the No. 3 seed in the East, the Boilermakers’ two-game run to the Sweet 16 of this tournament includes an 18-point win to cover 16.5 points against Yale and a 10-point victory against Texas closing as 3.5-point favorites. Purdue is now a perfect 13-0 SU in non-conference matchups this season.

These is no doubt that Saint Peter’s is one of the best storylines for this year’s NCAA Tournament. Yet, the clock is going to strike midnight at some point for the ultimate Cinderella. The big question for Friday is can the Peacocks at least cover with the 12.5-point spread. Purdue is perfect against the spread in its last two games but this has still been a tough team to bet on since early February. Take Saint Peter’s and the points one last time.

SAINT PETER’S PEACOCKS vs. PURDUE BOILERMAKERS BETTING ODDS

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SAINT PETER’S PEACOCKS vs. PURDUE BOILERMAKERS BETTING RESOURCES

Date: Friday, March 25, 2022
Matchup: No. 15 vs. No. 3
Region: East
Venue: Wells Fargo Center
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
TV-Time: CBS - 7:09 p.m. ET

SAINT PETER’S PEACOCKS BETTING ANALYSIS

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

SU: 21-11
ATS: 23-9
O/U: 13-19

Playing out of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, the Peacocks’ run to the Sweet 16 can be traced back to loss to Iona on Feb. 15. Since that point, this team has won 10 of its last 11 games both SU and against the spread. It covered as underdogs in four of those contests.

The total has gone OVER in three of the Peacocks’ last five contests, including their first two tournament games. Despite the fact they scored 85 points against Kentucky and 70 points in the win over Murray State, slowing down the pace of Friday’s game might be their only chance to keep things close against Purdue.

Saint Peter’s has averaged just 66.9 points a game this season. Guard Daryl Banks III has led the way with 11.4 PPG. Forward KC Ndefo is a close second with 10.7 points along with 6.2 rebounds a game. Guard Doug Edert (9.7 points) is third on that list.

The team is shooting 43.1% from the field and 35.3% from three-point range. It is hitting 68.3% of its shots from the foul line. Saint Peter’s biggest strength is still a defensive effort that has held opposing teams to 62.3 PPG. The Peacocks have not given up more than that average in six of their last eight games.

PURDUE BOILERMAKERS BETTING ANALYSIS

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

SU: 29-7
ATS: 15-20-1
O/U: 19-17

Coming into this tournament at 0-10-1 ATS over their last 11 games, I had no choice but to go against the Boilermakers in their first two games against Yale and Texas. Even with both of those covers, I remain leery taking the bait to go against a team that defines playing with house money.

Overall, Purdue is 29-7 SU with a 15-20-1 record ATS. It has failed to cover in 21 of 35 games closing as a favorite. With the two covers last week, this team is now 5-4 ATS in nine previous neutral-site games this season.

Backed by guard Jaden Ivey (17.6 points and 3.1 assists) and center Zach Edey (14.5 points and 7.9 rebounds), Purdue has a team that can contend for a national title. More and more money continues to come in on the Boilermakers’ favorable +900 futures odds to win it all.

They are shooting 49.3% from the field and 39.1% from three-point range while averaging 79.8 PPG. Purdue has the edge under the boards with 38.6 rebounds a game and it is holding opposing teams to 68.5 PPG.

**Saint Peter’s has covered the spread in five straight games when playing on a neutral court. (AP)**

INSIDE THE STATS - SAINT PETER’S PEACOCKS

Record: 21-11
PS/G: 67.5 (267th)
PA/G: 62.2 (19th)

INSIDE THE STATS - PURDUE BOILERMAKERS

Record: 29-7
PS/G: 79.8 (12th)
PA/G: 68.5 (158th)

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

SPU: Daryl Banks - G (11.4 ppg)
SPU: K.C. Ndefo - G (10.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg)
PUR: Jaden Ivey - G (17.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg)
PUR: Zach Edey - C (14.5 ppg, 7.9 rpg)

SAINT PETER’S PEACOCKS vs. PURDUE BOILERMAKERS BETTING CONCLUSION

Betting sense keeps telling me to lay the points in this game while Saint Peter’s goes off quietly in the night at Wells Fargo Center. But safe plays such as this is not what March Madness is all about. I will not go as far to suggest that Saint Peter’s wins. Yet, I do think the Peacocks have one more battle left in this amazing run to cover.

MARCH MADNESS PICK RESOURCES

SAINT PETER’S PEACOCKS vs. PURDUE BOILERMAKERS BETTING TRENDS

Saint Peter’s has covered the spread in five straight games when playing on a neutral court.
Purdue has failed to cover the spread in 10 of its last 12 games.
Purdue has gone UNDER the point total in six of its last eight games.

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Dave Schwab

Dave Schwab has been covering the sports betting industry for the past 12 years as the main focus of his specialty marketing company for online content. This endeavor followed a previous career in the field of sales and marketing in the wholesaling sector.Most of his weekly pieces focus on the rapidly expanding legal US sports betting industry. However, he still does extensive work covering betting angles that can provide a competitive edge to avid players. Dave believes that it is always a challenge to take past results and current form to try and correctly determine a future result. Sports brings out the unpredictability in what should be a fairly predictable outcome based on the stats, facts and recent trends in a particular matchup. More from Dave Schwab