March Madness: Drake vs. Missouri odds, picks and predictions
The 11th-seeded Drake Bulldogs (30-3) and sixth-seeded Missouri Tigers (22-11) meet in an NCAA Tournament first-round game in the West Region Thursday. Tip-off from INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas, is scheduled for 7:35 p.m. ET (truTV). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Drake vs. Missouri odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.
The Bulldogs are dancing for the third straight year after another strong season in the Missouri Valley Conference. They finished 17-3 in league play and made their fifth consecutive MVC Tournament final, winning the title for the third year in a row. A 63-48 win over the No. 2 seed Bradley Braves Sunday sealed their automatic bid. Junior G Bennett Stirtz has been the go-to guy, averaging 19.1 points per game (PPG).
No. 24 Missouri is back in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time since 2018 after finishing sixth in the SEC with a 10-8 conference record. The Tigers struggled late, dropping 4 of their last 5 regular-season games before falling to the Florida Gators 95-81 in the SEC quarterfinals Friday. Despite the rough finish, they'll lean on junior G Mark Mitchell, who leads the team with 14.1 PPG.
– Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Men's Basketball Coaches Poll
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Drake vs. Missouri odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 6:29 p.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML) : Drake +220 (bet $100 to win $220) | Missouri -275 (bet $275 to win $100)
: Drake +220 (bet $100 to win $220) | Missouri -275 (bet $275 to win $100) Against the spread (ATS) : Drake +6.5 (-118) | Missouri -6.5 (-102)
: Drake +6.5 (-118) | Missouri -6.5 (-102) Over/Under (O/U): 133.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Drake vs. Missouri picks and predictions
Prediction
Drake 68, Missouri 64
BET DRAKE (+220).
Momentum is everything in college basketball, and Drake has it heading into the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs have won 7 straight, including a dominant run through the Missouri Valley Conference tournament. While the SEC is undoubtedly tougher, Drake handled its schedule and picked up solid wins over Miami, Vanderbilt, and Kansas State.
Drake thrives on defense, allowing just 58.4 PPG — the best mark in the country. The Bulldogs slow the game down, force 13.8 turnovers per contest, and have held opponents to 60 or fewer points in half of their games. That's a major challenge for a Missouri squad that shoots 37% from beyond the arc and has scored 80-plus points in 25 of 33 games.
Missouri limped into the tournament, losing 5 of its last 7 games, and has just 1 NCAA Tournament win since 2010. With Drake's defense and momentum, the Bulldogs are primed to pull off the upset.
PASS.
If you'd feel more comfortable taking Drake with the points, that's completely understandable; I'd rather take the better odds on the moneyline, believing the Bulldogs can win this game outright.
PASS.
Drake's defense makes the Under tempting, but it's not the right play here. The Bulldogs have hit the Under in 6 of their last 8 games, but Missouri's high-scoring style has led to the Over hitting in 8 of its last 10 outings. With the total set lower than expected, it's a tough call. If it were closer to 140, the Under would be worth a look, but instead, I'll stick to betting the moneyline.
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