Queens vs. Purdue Prediction, Betting Pick, Latest NCAA Tournament First Round Odds for Friday, March 20th
Queens takes on Purdue in a 15 vs. 2 first-round NCAA Tournament matchup on Friday night in St. Louis. The Boilermakers enter as one of the most efficient offenses in the country, while Queens arrives as a dangerous Atlantic Sun champion making its first NCAA Tournament as a Division I program. Let’s check out the odds and best bet for this Queens vs. Purdue prediction on March 20.
OC Staff - March 20, 2026, 5:30 PM EDT
5 Minute ReadQueens vs. Purdue Prediction: Can Purdue Overcome History of First Round Troubles With Blowout on Friday Night?
Purdue drew a classic 2 vs. 15 matchup, but Queens is not walking in without confidence. The Royals can score, they play with pace, and they just won the Atlantic Sun title, while Purdue comes in battle-tested after cutting down the nets in the Big Ten Tournament and looking like one of the hottest teams in the bracket.
Queens vs. Purdue Recent Results
Purdue is 27-8, 13-7 Big Ten and enters the tournament off a Big Ten Tournament title run that ended with a championship win over Michigan. The Boilermakers beat Nebraska and UCLA before winning the league tournament, and they have surged back into the national top 10 heading into March Madness.
Queens is 21-13, 13-5 Atlantic Sun and earned its bid by winning the ASUN Tournament, including an overtime win over Central Arkansas in the title game. The Royals have won three straight entering this matchup and are making their first NCAA Tournament appearance as a Division I program.
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Queens vs. Purdue Odds
- Spread: Purdue -25.5 (-109), Queens University +25.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Purdue (-5000), Queens University (+3500)
- Total: Over 160.5 (-108), Under 160.5 (+108)
Queens vs. Purdue Date, Time, and Where to Watch
- Date: Friday, March 20th, 2026
- Time: 7:35 PM ET
- Where to Watch: TruTV
Click here for complete Queens vs. Purdue Odds
Queens vs. Purdue Preview, Injuries, Lineup News
Purdue’s biggest storyline remains its veteran core. Braden Smith continues to chase the NCAA all-time assist record, Fletcher Loyer is one of the team’s most important perimeter scorers, and the frontcourt remains anchored by Trey Kaufman-Renn and Oscar Cluff. This is an experienced group that looks far steadier than the Purdue teams that suffered shocking early exits in past tournaments.
Queens leans on a balanced attack with multiple double-digit scorers, but Chris Ashby stands out after his 34-point outburst in the ASUN title game. The Royals have enough shot-making to be annoying for stretches, but this is still a major jump in class against one of the best offenses in the country.
Queens vs. Purdue Prediction
This matchup starts with Purdue’s offense. The Boilermakers have one of the nation’s best attacks, and that was on full display again in the Big Ten Tournament. Their ball movement, spacing, and interior scoring give them a massive edge against a Queens team that can score but has not seen this level of size, execution, or half-court precision.
Queens does have one trait that can make things mildly uncomfortable: pace. The Royals are more willing to run, and they have enough shooting to hang around briefly if Purdue starts slowly. But Purdue’s experience should matter here, especially with four senior starters and a group that knows this may be its best path to a national title run.
The more important betting question is margin. Queens can probably score enough to avoid getting totally buried early, but Purdue’s offensive structure and frontcourt advantage should eventually wear the Royals down. The Boilermakers look like the stronger, cleaner, and more mature team, and they should advance comfortably even if the rotation spreads out the scoring load.
Queens vs. Purdue Best Bet
- Pick: Fletcher Loyer Under 16.5 Points (-119) Check out the best odds at FanDuel Sportsbook
This is the cleaner angle than laying the full number. Our FairPlay AI likes the under here with a 11.9% positive EV, and Loyer has stayed below 16.5 points in 14 of his last 20 games while averaging 12.6 points over that span. In a matchup where Purdue is a massive favorite and has plenty of other scoring options, this sets up as a game where the Boilermakers should not need a huge usage night from Loyer to move on.
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