March Madness Sweet Sixteen Betting
(1) Duke (31-5) vs. (4) Purdue (29-5)
The breakdown: A team that everybody expected to be here (Duke) faces off against a team that many had losing in the first round (Purdue) to 13 seed Siena.
Why Duke will win: Nobody expected Purdue to make it to the second weekend, and there’s a reason behind that. Star Robbie Hummel’s injury has impacted the Boilermakers, whether or not they admit it. Duke should be able to capitalize on Purdue’s lesser talent on the floor, and the big three of Jon Scheyer, Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith will be too much for Purdue to handle.
Why Purdue will win: To win this, Purdue will need to keep the game close throughout all 40 minutes. The Boilermakers can’t fall behind by 10 or more points, or they will find themselves out of the game and unable to make a comeback. JaJuan Johnson will need to continue to carry the load, and the rest of the team will have to play as mistake free as possible.
Pick: Duke by 12.
