The second game at the Maui Invitational on Monday is a fantastic matchup between the No. 2 Purdue Boilermakers and No. 11 Gonzaga Bulldogs.
Purdue has jumped up to a 4.5-point favorite in this contest, as the Boilermakers have started the season 3-0.
Their last win came at home against Xavier, an 83-71 triumph last Monday, but the Boilermakers failed to cover as 17-point favorites.
Gonzaga vs. Purdue prediction
(5 p.m. ET. ESPN)
Gonzaga has won each of its first two games in blowout fashion over Yale and Eastern Oregon.
The Bulldogs are led by redshirt freshman Braden Huff, who is averaging 21 points per game, along with Wyoming transfer Graham Ike, who is putting up 18 points per game.
These powers met last season in Portland, Ore. around Thanksgiving as Purdue routed Gonzaga, 84-66.
National Player of the Year Zach Edey paced the Boilermakers with 23 points as Purdue cashed as 6.5-point underdogs.
Gonzaga was listed as an underdog three times last season but lost each time by eight points or more.
The last time Mark Few’s team covered as an underdog came in 2019 at Arizona but, to be fair, it’s rare that the Bulldogs are receiving points.
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Seeing how this line has moved in favor of Purdue, there is definitely a lot of motivation this season for Matt Painter’s team after the shocking loss to FDU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Let’s lay the points with Purdue against Gonzaga at the Maui Invitational.
THE PICK: Purdue -4.5 (BetMGM Sportsbook)