Sweet 16 futures: Purdue still looms large in Midwest Region

With the Sweet 16 field set, it’s time to blow out the candles, gift ourselves handsome plus-money futures and celebrate the action. What lookahead markets has this Molly Ringwald’s undivided attention? Read my play in the Midwest Region below.

The pick: Purdue to win the Midwest Region (+170, FanDuel)

1-2-3-4.

Not every region currently in your out-of-contention bracket resembles the bloody aftermath of a random Samurai museum scrum with John Wick.

Hey, sometimes chalk does reign supreme.

Other than 11th-seeded Oregon’s ousting of No. 6 seed South Carolina, the Midwest Region has largely gone by the book. With nothing but heavyweights still standing, the Sweet 16 matchups in Detroit are sure to feature a pair of near-draw fisticuffs.

[ More Sweet 16 futures: East Region | South Region | West Region ]

Even with a Creighton Final Four ticket at +650, investing in an identical offering (though at a lower juice) on top-seed Purdue is an advisable move. Why?

The Boilermakers, inspired by a very partisan crowd in Indianapolis during wins over Grambling State and Utah State, have picked up and body-slammed doubters who claimed a Matt Painter-coached team was incapable of tasting sweetness.

Silence, haters.

Last year’s Fairleigh Dickinson devastation is long in the past. This Purdue team, similar to the 2019 national champion Virginia squad that distanced itself from its own debacle against a No. 16 seed (UMBC), is good — the whole enchilada good.

Glancing at the numbers, the Boilers have upped their game in several areas.

This month, they’ve netted 1.250 points per possession, secured a second chance on 37.4% of their possessions and converted a scintillating 44.3% from three. Yes, Zach Edey is a shoo-in to repeat as Naismith Player of the Year, but the skyscraper has become a more polished pivot this season. His back-down game is still nearly unstoppable, and his ability to read double-teams and find the open man has greatly improved. As a result, supporting cast members Lance Jones, Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer and Mason Gillis have breathed fire from outside.

Defensively, the West Lafayette youngsters are even more intimidating. Over their last seven games, they’ve yielded only 0.935 points per possession, 47.4% shooting from two and 27.3% from three. Because Edey can single-handedly derail attacks in the post, Painter’s crew successfully challenges the perimeter.

Because Purdue shares the sugar beautifully (No. 3 nationally in A/FGM), converts often on freebies (21.4% of its points) and consistently exhibits both-ends brilliance, it has excellent odds of earning a ticket to Glendale.

A rigorous schedule prepared the Boilers well. In non-conference action, they defeated Arizona, Alabama, Marquette, Tennessee and Gonzaga, their next opponent. Edey scored 25 points and hauled in 14 rebounds in the 73-63 Maui Invitational win over the Zags.

Still available at plus money, Purdue, assuming it survives Friday’s rematch with Gonzaga, is a supreme play against Creighton or Tennessee in the Elite Eight. Little Caesars Arena is sure to sound like Mackey North.

There’s nothing PU about sweet-smelling Purdue.