QuikReader

QuikReader

  • Latest
  • Top stories
  • Business
  • Tech
  • World
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Health
  • Science
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Sources
Sign in
  1. Sports
  2. Sources
  3. Yahoo Sports
  4. Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

March Madness 2025: Bettors are backing No. 13 High Point to pull an upset over No. 4 Purdue in the first round

High Point is bettors’ preferred upset pick of the first round of the NCAA men's tournament.

The No. 13 Panthers play No. 4 Purdue on Thursday afternoon in the first game of the Midwest region. High Point opened as a 9.5-point underdog to the Boilermakers at BetMGM and that number has already come down to 7.5 points as of Wednesday afternoon.

That’s because High Point is getting the most bets and money against the spread of any team in the NCAA tournament so far. More than 80% of bets and 88% of the handle bet on the game is on High Point to cover.

[Yahoo Fantasy Bracket Mayhem is back: Enter for a shot to win up to $50K]

High Point is +280 to win the game outright and is also getting the most moneyline action of any team. The total of 153.5 — down two points from an opening total of 155.5 — is also the most-bet total of any game.

The Panthers went 29-5 in the regular season and won both the regular season and Big South conference tournament titles. The team ranks 19th in the country with over 82 points per game and is led by a rotation that features five seniors and a junior among the team’s top seven scorers. Kezza Giffa leads the team with 14.8 points per game.

Purdue is led by star guard Braden Smith and is hoping to avoid a second first-round upset in three seasons. The Boilermakers became just the second No. 1 seed to lose to a No. 16 in 2023 when they fell to Fairleigh Dickinson. A season ago, Purdue bounced back and went to the national title game before losing to back-to-back national champion UConn.

The only game getting more action at BetMGM than High Point and Purdue is Michigan’s matchup against UC San Diego. And bettors are split on that one. UCSD is getting the second-most moneyline bets at +125, but Michigan is getting the second-most bets against the spread. The Wolverines are 2.5-point favorites as a No. 5 seed after beating Wisconsin for the Big Ten tournament title on Sunday.

Read more at Yahoo Sports
  Save story

Topics

  • March Madness
  • March
  • Madness
  • First Round
  • Purdue

Related

  • CBS analyst: Purdue basketball will be upset in the first round of March Madness

    CBS analyst Seth Davis picked 13th-seed High Point to upset No. 4 Purdue in first round of NCAA Tournament
    Yahoo Sports - 2d

  • March Madness 2025 odds, matchups: Opening lines for first-round NCAA tournament games

    Here are the odds on every March Madness first-round game at BetMGM sportsbook.
    Yahoo Sports - 2d

  • 2025 NCAA Tournament: Purdue First Round Media Video

    AP Joshua Facemyer Purdue is back in the NCAA Tournament and it is preparing to take on High Point in round 1. Wednesday was media day in Providence and Boiler Upload has you covered with ...
    Yahoo Sports - 4h
  • Men's tournament 13 vs. 4 upset rankings: Is Purdue vulnerable to an early exit?

    Men's tournament 13 vs. 4 upset rankings: Is Purdue vulnerable to an early exit?

    In the past seven years, No. 4 seeds have fallen victim to seven first-round upsets
    CBS Sports - 2d

  • Aggie fans react to Texas A&M earning a 4-seed, taking on 13-seed Yale in March Madness

    Selection Sunday has come, leading to social media reacting to 4-seed Texas A&M facing 13-seed Yale in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
    Yahoo Sports - 2d

  • Most likely upsets in women's March Madness? Bracket predictions for surprise teams

    The women's NCAA Tournament is here. Here's a prediction at which teams could surprise the field with first-round March Madness upsets:
    Yahoo Sports - 2d

  • March Madness bracket 2025: NCAA tournament first round schedule

    The 68-team NCAA tournament field is set. Here's the 2025 March Madness first round schedule, including First Four and all four regions.
    Yahoo Sports - 2d

  • Why sportsbooks like FanDuel and DraftKings really need March Madness bettors to lose this year

    March Madness numbers to know include $3.1 billion in wagers and nearly $5 million in earnings for one player.
    MarketWatch - 1d

  • High Point kept falling short of March Madness. Now the Panthers are finally getting their moment

    Alan Huss knew High Point had been close. The Panthers had never been to the NCAA Tournament even after winning the Big South regular-season race five times previously, repeatedly being undone by ...
    Yahoo Sports - 22h

More from Yahoo Sports

  • Texans CB Derek Stingley setting the new standard for record-setting extensions

    Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. told ESPN that his new $30 million deal will mark the changing times for defensive backs to get paid.
    Yahoo Sports - 15m

  • Aidoo ready to make impact for Arkansas in Big Dance

    Jonas Aidoo has been to the tournament a time or two, and that could be vital if the Hogs want to make a run.
    Yahoo Sports - 20m

  • Aidoo ready to make impact for Arkansas in Big Dance

    Jonas Aidoo has been to the tournament a time or two, and that could be vital if the Hogs want to make a run.
    Yahoo Sports - 20m

  • Bears sign former Ravens All-Pro return specialist Devin Duvernay, re-sign RB Travis Homer

    The Chicago Bears signed former Baltimore Ravens All-Pro return specialist Devin Duvernay to a one-year contract and re-signed running back and special teams contributor Travis Homer to a one-year ...
    Yahoo Sports - 21m

  • Bears sign former Ravens All-Pro return specialist Devin Duvernay, re-sign RB Travis Homer

    The Chicago Bears signed former Baltimore Ravens All-Pro return specialist Devin Duvernay to a one-year contract and re-signed running back and special teams contributor Travis Homer to a one-year ...
    Yahoo Sports - 21m

More in Sports

  • Texans CB Derek Stingley setting the new standard for record-setting extensions

    Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. told ESPN that his new $30 million deal will mark the changing times for defensive backs to get paid.
    Yahoo Sports - 15m

  • Aidoo ready to make impact for Arkansas in Big Dance

    Jonas Aidoo has been to the tournament a time or two, and that could be vital if the Hogs want to make a run.
    Yahoo Sports - 20m

  • Aidoo ready to make impact for Arkansas in Big Dance

    Jonas Aidoo has been to the tournament a time or two, and that could be vital if the Hogs want to make a run.
    Yahoo Sports - 20m

  • Bears sign former Ravens All-Pro return specialist Devin Duvernay, re-sign RB Travis Homer

    The Chicago Bears signed former Baltimore Ravens All-Pro return specialist Devin Duvernay to a one-year contract and re-signed running back and special teams contributor Travis Homer to a one-year ...
    Yahoo Sports - 21m

  • Bears sign former Ravens All-Pro return specialist Devin Duvernay, re-sign RB Travis Homer

    The Chicago Bears signed former Baltimore Ravens All-Pro return specialist Devin Duvernay to a one-year contract and re-signed running back and special teams contributor Travis Homer to a one-year ...
    Yahoo Sports - 21m
© 2025 QuikReader - About - Terms - Privacy