Friday's 2018 NCAA Tournament Schedule
On Friday, there will be a matchup in Detroit, Michigan, between 2-seed Purdue and 15-seed Cal State Fullerton at 12:40 p.m. ET. Purdue is favored by 20.5 points, unchanged from the open. The over-under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 145, down 1.5 from where it opened.
Before making any pick, it's important to hear what SportsLine handicapper Mike Tierney has to say. With a proven track record of picking Big Ten clubs, Tierney is a perfect 3-0 picking the Boilermakers. He's the ideal insider to make this pick.
Tierney has used his strong analytical background to examine every matchup, every player, and every trend for Purdue vs. Cal State Fullerton, and he has locked in a strong against-the-spread pick. You can see it at SportsLine.
Tierney has taken into account Purdue's strong recent performances. The Boilermakers have won five of their last six games overall. They've found success with a balanced attack, with four players averaging 12 points or more. Plus, Purdue is loaded with players who have experienced the pressures of playing in March. Four of Purdue's five starters have been playing together for four seasons.
The Boilermakers are also one of the best-shooting teams in the country from downtown. They rank second in the nation in three-point field goal percentage (42.0) and have scored over 90 points in seven games this season.
However, just because Purdue's offense has been extremely dynamic doesn't mean they can cover a 20.5-point spread. The Titans have performed well against the spread, with a 5-1 record, and they have faced strong competition in the NCAA Tournament by playing four power conference foes, including close losses against Georgia and California.
Tierney has evaluated all of these circumstances and has made his against-the-spread pick. He knows there's a big x-factor that will determine the outcome.
Make Your Pick at SportsLine
If you want to know which side of Purdue vs. Cal State Fullerton you should back, and what the x-factor is that determines the outcome, visit SportsLine now. Tierney has a proven track record and has successfully picked the last three Boilermakers games.