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Braden Smith, Lance Jones, and Zach Edey of the Purdue Boilermakers walk across the court against the NC State Wolfpack in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Final Four. We're breaking down Purdue in our 2024 National Championship Game Odds.
Braden Smith, Lance Jones, and Zach Edey of the Purdue Boilermakers walk across the court against the NC State Wolfpack in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Final Four. Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images via AFP.

As we examine the top March Madness odds, the Purdue Boilermakers are set to face off against the UConn Huskies in the 2024 national championship game for college basketball. Let’s take a look at the game odds, spread, and line for Purdue vs. UConn.

The 2024 national championship game between the Purdue Boilermakers (34-4) and the UConn Huskies marks the pinnacle of the college basketball season, taking place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on Monday.

Zach Edey, a top contender for March Madness MVP, will aim to cause an upset against the UConn Huskies, who are favored by 7 points on our top sports betting sites. The game is scheduled to start at 9:20 p.m. ET on TBS. Edey may face a challenging task against a UConn team determined to win their second consecutive championship.

Check out our top picks, predictions, and props for the Purdue vs. UConn game, all based on the most recent odds from our trusted March Madness betting sites. Our confidence level for each pick is rated on a scale of 1 to 5 stars.

Information about the Purdue (1) vs. UConn (1) game

  • When: Monday, April 8
  • Game start time: 9:20 p.m. Eastern Time
  • Location: State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
  • How to watch: TBS
  • Top pick: UConn is favored by 7 points with odds of -105 at bet365.
  • Over/Under: 144.5
  • Moneyline odds for the UConn vs. Purdue game are UConn -305 and Purdue +245 on bet365.

2024 National Championship odds

Prediction for the Purdue vs. UConn game

UConn 81, Purdue 73

  • BetMGM has UConn ML at -275, receiving a four-star rating.
  • UConn is favored by 6.5 points with odds of -115 on FanDuel. This is a three-star bet.
  • Bet the over on 145.5 points with odds of -110 from DraftKings, rated three stars.

Despite Edey’s impressive performance this season, UConn has faced little challenge. In their last 11 NCAA Tournament games, dating back to last year’s championship, the Huskies have won by an average of 22.2 points. The closest game was a 13-point victory over the Miami Hurricanes in the 2023 Final Four.

With UConn ranking first in adjusted offensive efficiency and fourth in adjusted defensive efficiency, according to KenPom, they are the more balanced team entering the national championship game.

With Purdue ranking third in adjusted offensive efficiency and both offenses capable of scoring points, the Huskies have the advantage of Donovan Clingan potentially being the key player to slow down Edey enough for them to not only win but also cover the spread. For further analysis on this matchup, be sure to read our expert picks for the men’s national championship and our prediction for the Purdue vs. UConn game.

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Player props for the Purdue vs. UConn game.

  • Zach Edey is expected to have less than 37.5 points + rebounds, with odds of -111 on FanDuel, earning a 4-star rating.
  • Donovan Clingan is projected to have 0.5 steals with a +105 odds according to DraftKings, earning a 3-star rating.
  • Tristen Newton is favored to have over 5.5 assists with -115 odds on bet365, earning a four-star rating.

Throughout the NCAA Tournament, Edey has been a dominant presence against smaller teams, but UConn’s Clingan has emerged as a formidable opponent. According to DBPR, Clingan is ranked as the top defender in the nation and possesses the size to challenge Edey effectively.

Standing at 7-foot-4 and weighing 300 pounds, Edey has dominated smaller big men in the early rounds of March Madness. However, he has yet to face a player like “Cling Kong,” who earned his nickname for his elite rim protection skills at 7-foot-2 and 280 pounds. Clingan is not only a force on defense but also agile enough to capitalize on Edey’s turnover problems, averaging 1.0 steals per game in the tournament.

Although Clingan is the favored MVP for March Madness for UConn, Tristen Newton is the only All-American on the Huskies team. While he may not have met his scoring expectations during March Madness, the senior has excelled in playmaking, leading the team with an average of 7.2 assists per game. For more information on these player props, be sure to check out our Purdue vs. UConn player props.

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Purdue vs. UConn parlay

  • UConn is favored by 6.5 points with odds of -115 on FanDuel, rated three stars.
  • Tristen Newton has odds of +108 on FanDuel to record over 6.5 assists, earning a four-star rating.
  • Bet on Zach Edey to grab less than 12.5 rebounds at -120 odds on FanDuel, rated three stars.

The combined odds on FanDuel are +457.

We chose FanDuel for this parlay because it is the only one of our top sports betting sites that still has UConn at -6.5 and Newton’s assists prop at +108. This increases the odds of the parlay to +457, meaning a $10 bet could result in a $45.70 profit if all legs of the SGP are successful.

In their last 11 NCAA Tournament games, UConn has a perfect 11-0 record against the spread, winning each game by at least 13 points. With Newton leading the offense, he should be able to create scoring opportunities for his teammates against Purdue’s smaller backcourt. While Purdue is a strong opponent, the key factor in this game could be Clingan’s impact. Not only can he challenge Edey in the paint, but he could also grab crucial rebounds against Purdue’s big man.

Edey struggled to secure just 12 rebounds in the Final Four matchup against NC State, marking his lowest rebound total of the tournament. He faced a tough challenge from the duo of D.J. Burns and Mohamed Diarra. Clingan, who is taller than Diarra and heavier than Burns, seems well-equipped to defend against Edey. To learn more about this, make sure to explore our Purdue vs. UConn parlay in the SGP.

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Player props for Zach Edey in the Purdue vs. UConn game.

  • Bet on Zach Edey to score fewer than 23.5 points at -110 odds on FanDuel. This bet is rated three stars.
  • Bet recommendation: Zach Edey to have over 2.5 turnovers at odds of -115 on DraftKings, rated with 4 stars.
  • BetMGM has Zach Edey with over 1.5 assists at -149, earning a four-star rating.

Edey’s formidable size can only be matched by a Kaiju, which is exactly what Cling Kong represents for UConn. As the defensive stalwart for the top college basketball team, Clingan is averaging an impressive 3.6 blocks per game in the NCAA Tournament. Edey has yet to face a player of Clingan’s immense size and skill level.

Edey typically has a height advantage of four to six inches and a weight advantage of 40 to 80 pounds over other big men he faces. Despite being slightly smaller than Edey, Clingan is the most similar player in the sport to him, making their matchup a must-watch. Clingan has the ability to challenge Edey at the rim and force turnovers, as evidenced by Edey’s recent five-turnover game in the Final Four.

Edey’s true impact can be seen as a passer from the post, with an average of 2.2 assists per game in the NCAA Tournament. If UConn focuses on defending him inside, he has multiple 3-point shooters to pass to on the perimeter. Explore our Zach Edey player props to see how the Purdue standout will perform against UConn.

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