Gonzaga vs Purdue Picks and Prediction for Monday November 2 2026
Purdue has beaten Gonzaga five straight times. That’s a nice little streak.
But here’s what bothers me about using that to pick Monday’s game. Most of the players responsible for those wins aren’t playing for Purdue anymore.
Braden Smith is gone. So are Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn. Matt Painter is practically starting over with a different group.
And Gonzaga? Mark Few has a new-look team himself, but I like the Bulldogs a little more in this opener.
Sign Up Get $30 Premium Picks Credit + Exclusive Offers
Subscribe Now
Gonzaga and Purdue meet Monday, November 2, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Tipoff is 7:30 PM ET on TNT, truTV and HBO Max. It’s the regular-season opener for both schools. Gonzaga is favored by 4.5 points at FanDuel, with the total at 155.5. The college basketball season is just tipping off and you need to make sure you are ready for all the action with our free college basketball picks.
Gonzaga Bulldogs Have Some New Faces
Gonzaga opens the season ranked No. 15 in the AP poll. The Bulldogs went 31-4 last year and reached their 27th consecutive NCAA Tournament. That’s impressive, but this isn’t the same team. Few has had to rebuild much of his rotation, and Monday will tell us quite a bit about how quickly the new group has come together.
The Bulldogs have traditionally been excellent at moving the ball, getting quality shots and making opponents defend the entire floor. But I’m not going to use last year’s offensive averages as though this year’s roster produced them. It didn’t. The early question is whether Gonzaga’s guards can handle Purdue’s pressure and get the ball inside without wasting possessions.
Braden Huff is one of the important returning pieces, and Davis Fogle gives the Bulldogs another familiar face. Xaivian Lee and Javon Bennett are expected to be available in the backcourt. That matters because the Bulldogs need reliable ballhandling against Painter’s defense. Chauncey Wiggins remains ineligible, so Gonzaga won’t have its entire intended roster. Still, Few has enough talent to put together a dangerous offense.
Purdue Boilermakers Have a Lot to Replace
Purdue starts 0-0, just like Gonzaga. The Boilermakers have made 11 consecutive NCAA Tournaments, but they’re facing a pretty unusual situation. They return only 41 starts from last season, the fewest of Painter’s tenure. That’s a big deal. You can bring back several players and still lose most of the guys who actually ran the team.
Purdue’s exhibitions showed both sides of the problem. The Boilermakers beat Ball State 87-55 and Purdue Fort Wayne 92-62, then lost 76-53 at Connecticut. They made 17 three-pointers against Ball State, so the outside shooting is there. But scoring 53 against UConn shows how difficult things can get when the opponent has comparable size and talent. Gonzaga is going to provide another serious test.
C.J. Cox averaged 15.3 points through Purdue’s three exhibitions and made seven of 14 three-point attempts. Omer Mayer averaged ten points, while Daniel Jacobsen contributed 8.7 on 62.5 percent shooting. Princeton transfer Caden Pierce gives Purdue an experienced forward who averaged 16.6 points in his last full season at Princeton. There’s talent here. I just think the Boilermakers will need some time to settle into their new roles.
Gonzaga vs Purdue Picks and Prediction
Gonzaga Bulldogs -4.5
I’m taking Gonzaga minus 4.5. Purdue has the coaching and shooting to keep this close, and Painter’s teams don’t usually beat themselves. That’s the danger. But losing Smith, Loyer and Kaufman-Renn is a lot to overcome in the first game of the season. Gonzaga has new players too, but I trust Few to get enough offense from his guards and inside players. Purdue could make this uncomfortable for 30 minutes. I think Gonzaga pulls away late.
Under 155.5 Points
I’ll take Under 155.5. Both teams have new rotations, and I expect some sloppy possessions while everybody figures out who should be taking which shots. Gonzaga likes to play fast, so that’s the biggest concern. If the Bulldogs get rolling in transition, 156 points isn’t an impossible number. But Purdue usually prefers a more controlled game, and Painter isn’t going to want his inexperienced lineup running up and down the floor all night. I can see Gonzaga winning something like 79-72.
Final Picks: Gonzaga Bulldogs -4.5 and Under 155.5 Points
Betting on College Basketball?
- Join Picks and Parlays premium for free and get a free $30 coupon with code FREE30
- Get started and wager on college hoops today with our favorite online sportsbooks
- Claim a CBB betting bonus offer with the best sportsbook promos
Get Up to $1,000 Back in Bonus Bets Over Your First 10 Days
New Users – Get $350 in Bonus Bets when you wager $5 for 7 days
New DraftKings Customers: Bet $5, Get $200 + 3 Months of NBA League Pass
