Texas Longhorns vs Purdue Boilermakers NCAAB Betting Pick & Prediction for 3/26

The Texas Longhorns, seeded 11th, will face the 2nd-seeded Purdue Boilermakers in the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament. This Sweet 16 game takes place in the West Region at Mackey Arena, West Lafayette, Indiana. The game is scheduled for Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET.

Texas enters this matchup after an 18-14 regular season record and a 9-10 record in the Southeastern Conference. Purdue, ranked 8th in the AP poll, finished their regular season with a 27-8 overall record and a 17-7 record in the Big Ten Conference. Both teams will compete for a spot in the Elite Eight.

Texas Longhorns vs Purdue Boilermakers Game Day Info

  • Sport: College Basketball
  • Teams: Texas Longhorns vs Purdue Boilermakers
  • Venue: Mackey Arena, West Lafayette IN
  • Date: Thursday, March 26, 2026
  • Betting Odds: Purdue -7.5, Texas +7.5, Purdue MoneyLine -345, Texas MoneyLine +275, Over/Under 149.5 (-110)

Texas Longhorns Team Preview

The Texas Longhorns have a strong offensive lineup this season. They average 83.8 points per game, which ranks them 32nd. Their field goal percentage stands at 48.6, placing them in the top 35 nationally.

In terms of defense, the Longhorns have room for improvement. They average only 5.8 steals per game, ranking 382nd. Their blocks per game also lag behind at 2.9, placing them 441st.

The Longhorns have key players like Dailyn Swain and Matas Vokietaitis. Swain leads with 17.8 points per game and 7.6 rebounds. Vokietaitis adds 15.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, providing strong support.

Purdue Boilermakers Team Preview

The Purdue Boilermakers had a strong regular season with a 27-8 overall record and a 17-7 record in the Big Ten Conference. Their offense was solid, scoring an average of 81.7 points per game. They ranked high in field goal percentage, hitting 49.9% of their shots, which placed them 15th nationally.

In the postseason, Purdue’s scoring increased to 104.0 points per game, making them one of the top scoring teams. Their effective field goal percentage was remarkable at 73.8%, ranking second. Purdue also improved their three-point shooting, making 58.3% of their attempts, which was the best in the nation.

Purdue’s key players include Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer. Smith averaged 14.0 points and 3.6 rebounds per game during the regular season. Loyer contributed 13.8 points and shot 42.1% from beyond the arc. These players will be crucial for Purdue’s success in upcoming games.

BTB Betting Pick

For the spread pick, Texas at +7.5 is the recommendation. Purdue is the favorite, but Texas has shown strong postseason performance with 73.7 points per game. The projected score is Purdue 82, Texas 76, which keeps Texas within the spread.

For the over/under pick, go with the over 149.5. Both teams have high-scoring postseason stats, with Purdue averaging 104.0 points per game and Texas at 73.7. The projected total score is 158, suggesting that the game will go over the line.