Tennessee ranks 3rd in defensive efficiency. However, their offense has been the cause of concern and have still shot below 40% in five of their last seven games. Purdue has been the more consistent team on both sides of the ball, with a much-improved defense from last season. As mentioned before, the Boilermakers appear to be on a mission since losing to a 16-seed last year in the first round. Purdue is also 7-2-1 ATS on neutral floors as compared to the Volunteers 3-5.

I've not been good at college hoops of late, my apologies, and this will be my final play of the year. Sometimes that sport is just not worth it. When a team is down its two best players by far (Evansville recently) and still wins, I don't know what to think. I'll be honest: Hate Purdue and part of me hopes it loses. But think I will win my main bracket competition if they win (and UConn wins the title, which I expect) and cash in big time. Like biggest ever. So I'm just gonna double down on the Boilers here and not watch one second of it. Because that usually ends badly for me. I call it the NHL overtime rule.

This is a different Purdue from the past couple of seasons as Matt Painter has borrowed a page from Mike Budenholzer's NBA champion Bucks of a few years ago, who spread the floor with shooters around Giannis. Of course, Zach Edey and Giannis are different players, but the concept is the same, as the Boilermakers' 41% three-point shooting (nation's best) makes it all hum. Dalton Knecht and the 80 ppg Vols offense might keep pace, however, and two teams combining to score 163 pg should clear 147, even if they didn't in their November 21 clash at Honolulu (Maui Classic; 71-67 Purdue). Play Tennessee-Purdue "Over" (NCAA at Detroit)

Tennessee has never been to a Final Four and Purdue hasn't gone to one in 44 years. I like the Boilermakers to break through. Outside of UConn, Purdue has been the NCAA Tournament's most impressive team. The Boilermakers are much better than last year's version, ranking No. 2 in offensive efficiency and No. 19 in defensive efficiency. They lead the nation in 3-point percentage (41.0) and have been even better in this tournament (43.3 percent). When Purdue beat Tennessee 71-67 in the Maui Invitational, the Boilermakers won despite going 4 of 15 from deep and 29 of 48 on free throws. Look for a better shooting performance as Purdue covers.

This has looked like an impending showdown between UCONN and Purdue for quite some time, which would be a chalky-but-interesting title game. No reason to get off of that now. Boilers have coasted to this point, building confidence and deep depth and shaking off last year's collapse. That will serve them well here, as will essentially home court advantage again. We think they cover - basically every win this season is over this margin save for at Marquette - but will play it safe here. TEN is athletic and will make this a game but the best big man in the country is going to the final four.