Purdue vs. Yale 03/18/2022 NCAA Basketball Odds and Prediction

Two March Madness solid teams are set to face off in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament – the Purdue Boilermakers versus the Yale Bulldogs. The matchup represents a 3-seed against a 14-seed, as both teams have hopes of making a run deep into the tournament. 

The Boilermakers, which in recent years have established themselves as a dominant basketball school, are making their seventh straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

Purdue finished the year with an impressive 27-7 record, which included multiple victories over Illinois – a team that shared the regular-season Big Ten title with Wisconsin.

The Bulldogs, while finishing the year 19-11, qualified for a bid in the NCAA tournament after snatching a victory against the Princeton Tigers to win the Ivy League Men’s Basketball Tournament.

Is this a fair matchup? Do the Bulldogs have any chance of upsetting a Boilermaker program that’s quickly developing into a college basketball powerhouse?

Let’s take a closer look at Purdue vs. Yale betting odds, compare the two teams, and see what the best betting pick for this March Madness 2022 match is.

Purdue Aiming at the Title

Sophomore guard Jaden Ivey has been a key component to Purdue’s success over the season, stepping up in multiple games and leading the Boilermakers to key victories. Many pro basketball analysts and experts project Ivey to be a top-5 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.

However, it’s also worth noting that many other key contributors played a role in Purdue’s success this season. The Boilermakers as a whole have several big men with plenty of size to overpower their Yale counterparts.

This includes sophomore center Zach Edey, who’s averaging an impressive 7.8 rebounds per game. He also stands at 7’ 4” and will likely tower over whoever he’s guarding.

Purdue also finished the season second in the nation for rebounding margin while also limiting opponents to less than 30 rebounds per game. Offensively, the Boilermakers also performed well, ranking sixth nationally in field goal percentage with 49.3% for the entire team.

For the Boilermakers, it’ll all come down to size and power. When utilizing the advantage they have over Bulldogs in terms of their athletic prowess, they’ll win the game handily.

Yale Has a Lot of Momentum

Throughout the season, Yale has proven its ability to play tough defensive basketball – it’s honestly been their saving grace. The team can effectively close out possessions on missed field goals and slow down the game for their opponents.

That’s exactly how Yale won the Ivy League Conference title.

Forever mood. 🎊🏆#ThisIsYale | #IvyChampspic.twitter.com/hwC6bfPXtW

— Yale Men's Basketball (@YaleMBasketball) March 14, 2022

However, if the Bulldogs fail to hit shots from the perimeter, they’ll likely fall behind and not recover. It’s going to be an uphill battle for Yale from outset of the game against Purdue.

If Yale has any chance at winning, they’ll also need to put the pressure on Purdue’s defense, which has been inconsistent at times throughout the season despite significantly out-rebounding their opponents.

Purdue is also coming off a disappointing performance against Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament Championship game, losing the turnover battle by +11.

Yale will also need their best player, senior guard Azar Swain, to step up his game and elevate the players around him if the Bulldogs plan on upsetting the Boilermakers. Swain is currently averaging 19.2 points per game.

Purdue vs. Yale Stats and Trends

Let’s take a look at what history tells us. The last time Purdue played against Yale was a matchup back in 1962 in which the Boilermakers won by a score of 76-66. It’s the only other time in history when these two teams played each other.

Yale is only making its 8th career appearance in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, whereas Purdue is making its 33rd appearance.

Yale currently has a 1-6 lifetime record in the NCAA tournament, and Purdue has a record of 42-32. The Boilermakers have made it to the Final Four on two separate occasions (they’re also currently ranked 10th in the nation).

You’re also likely wondering how each team performed against the spread this year. Here’s that information:

• Purdue against the spread in 2021-22: 13-19-2
• Yale against the spread in 2021-22: 14-15

It’s also worth noting that Purdue finished the year 6-1 in games that took place at neutral locations. This includes an 80-74 victory over a fifth-ranked Villanova near the beginning of the year.

Whenever Purdue scores more than 68 points in a game, they’re 24-1. They also have a record of 17-4 when their opponents score fewer than 72 points.

Yale will likely have to limit Purdue to 65 points or less to give themselves a chance of beating the Boilermakers. Purdue is currently averaging 79.8 points per game and the team is shooting nearly 40% from three-point range.

Purdue vs. Yale Betting Odds

Purdue -2000 Yale +1000

Purdue -15.5 (-110) Yale +15.5 (-110)

Over 143 (-110) Under 143 (-110)

It’s obvious that the best sports betting sites expect a win for Purdue. The team is simply on another level compared to Yale.

The big question here is whether the Bulldogs can give the opposition a fight. They are a tough team with plenty of momentum, but the overall talent at their disposal is not quite there to beat a favorite like Purdue.

Purdue vs. Yale Prediction and Betting Pick

Ultimately, Purdue is the clear favorite to win the game. Yale can play tough and try to utilize their best matchups, but the Boilermakers simply have a huge athletic advantage over the Bulldogs.

Also, Yale’s schedule for the 2021-22 season only included two Power 6 opponents – Auburn and Seton Hall (the Bulldogs lost both of those games). The school did secure a 91-71 victory over UMass, a team that finished 7-11 in the Atlantic 10 Conference.

Yale’s head coach James Jones has also been with the school since 1999 and entered the 2021-22 season with 333 career wins. However, Purdue head coach Matt Painter began his tenure with the team in 2005 and has several impressive accolades.

Among Painter’s accomplishments include three Big Ten Conference titles, a Big Ten Tournament Championship, and a National Coach of the Year award in 2019.

Everything considered, Yale is simply no match for Purdue. In terms of overall efficiency and how they perform in every facet of the game, the Boilermakers are superior

Purdue will likely go on multiple runs that’ll put the game out of reach for Yale. The Bulldogs have failed to cover the spread this year as double-digit underdogs, ensuring that the Boilermakers are a safe bet for this particular matchup.

Betting Pick: Purdue -15.5 (-110)

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