A team that sneaks into the Big Dance is typically one of the most confident. North Texas escaped with a dramatic comeback win in the Conference USA final to topple Western Kentucky. A favorable matchup against Purdue and confidence should spark a solid effort from the Mean Green.

No. 13 North Texas vs. No. 4 Purdue in South Region action. The Mean Green were moderately surprising winners of the Conference USA Tournament. They have a very good starting five but are incredibly thin otherwise now that Sixth Man Rubin Jones has been ruled out of this one. He missed the C-USA Tournament, too, but there's obviously a big step up in competition here. Purdue also has tons of size that North Texas can't match. The Boilers are 4-0 ATS in their past four as favorites.

North Texas lost its final three games of the season before catching fire -- or getting lucky -- in its final four games of the C-USA Tournament. It was an awful display of shooting by the Mean Green in their last three, but their opponents just shot worse like Louisiana Tech in the semifinals shooting 17-of-53 and Western Kentucky in the final shooting 17-of-50. Good defense, but Purdue won’t be pushed around inside. Purdue wins the game in the paint. Purdue gets the cover.