Queens (NC) Royals vs Purdue Boilermakers NCAAB Betting Pick & Prediction for 3/20

The NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament is here, and the Queens (NC) Royals are set to play the Purdue Boilermakers. This first-round game in the West Region will be held at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, MO. The game is scheduled for Friday, March 20, 2026, at 7:35 PM ET and will air on truT.

Queens (NC) enters as a 15 seed after a 21-13 regular season record, finishing strong in the Atlantic Sun with a 16-5 conference record. On the other side, the 2 seed Purdue Boilermakers come in with a 27-8 overall record and a 17-7 mark in the Big Ten. Purdue is ranked #8 in the AP poll, making this an exciting matchup for both teams.

Queens (NC) Royals vs Purdue Boilermakers Game Day Info

  • Sport: College Basketball
  • Teams: Queens (NC) Royals vs Purdue Boilermakers
  • Venue: Enterprise Center, St. Louis MO
  • Date: Friday, March 20, 2026
  • Betting Odds: Purdue -25.5, Queens (NC) +25.5, Over/Under 163.5

Queens (NC) Royals Team Preview

The Queens (NC) Royals have been on a winning streak with three consecutive victories. They recently won against the Central Arkansas Bears, scoring 98 points. Chris Ashby was the standout player, contributing 34 points with a field goal percentage of 52.6%.

In their game against the Austin Peay Governors, the Royals scored 90 points. Nasir Mann contributed 18 points, while Jordan Watford added 21 points. The team showed strong shooting with a field goal percentage of 50.7%.

Queens (NC) has an overall record of 21-13 this season. Their offense averages 84.9 points per game, ranking 23rd in the nation. On the defensive side, they struggle with rebounds, averaging 33.8 per game, which ranks 340th.

Purdue Boilermakers Team Preview

Purdue Boilermakers have had a strong season with an overall record of 27-8. They rank #8 in the AP poll and play in the Big Ten Conference. In their last three games, they secured victories against Michigan, UCLA, and Nebraska.

Offensively, Purdue averages 81.7 points per game. Their field goal percentage stands at 49.9%, placing them 15th nationally. The Boilermakers are also effective from beyond the arc, hitting 37.9% of their three-point attempts.

On defense, Purdue averages 5.5 steals and 2.8 blocks per game. They face challenges with turnovers, averaging 8.7 per game. Despite this, they maintain a solid presence in their conference games.

BTB Betting Pick

Purdue is favored by 25.5 points against Queens (NC). Purdue scores 81.7 points per game, while Queens (NC) scores 84.9 points per game. The spread pick is Queens (NC) to cover +25.5, as their high-scoring offense could keep them closer than the spread suggests.

The over/under is set at 163.5. With both teams having strong offensive stats, the projected score could be high. The pick is to go over 163.5, considering their combined scoring potential per game.