Drake Bulldogs vs Indiana State Sycamores NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/18/25
The Bulldogs and Sycamores are set to face off at 6:00 ET on ESPNU. The Sycamores will host the game at Hulman Center in Terre Haute, IN. Drake is favored by -5.5 in this Missouri Valley conference showdown. The game’s over/under is currently at 143.5 points.
DRAKE BULLDOGS VS INDIANA STATE SYCAMORES BETTING PICK
The Pick: Indiana State Sycamores +5.5
This game will be played at Hulman Center at 6:00 ET on Saturday, January 18th.
WHY BET THE INDIANA STATE SYCAMORES:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-69 in favor of the Sycamores.
- Not only will Indiana State pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +5.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 143.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 146 points.
Will Drake Win on the Road?
Drake Bulldogs Recent Game/Games
Drake improved to 13-2 on the season with a 66-62 win over Illinois State on Wednesday. The Bulldogs, who were -10.5 point favorites, didn’t cover the spread.
Drake led 34-30 at halftime and matched Illinois State point-for-point in the 2nd half, with both teams scoring 32. The total points for the game were 128, just over the O/U line of 123.5.
Drake’s offense was efficient in their last game, shooting 52.3% from the field and 47.8% from three-point range, with an effective field goal percentage of 63.6%. They hit 81.8% of their free throws and grabbed 6 offensive rebounds, finishing with 10 assists as a team.
Daniel Abreu led the way with 23 points, shooting 77.8% overall and 80% from deep. Bennett Stirtz and Chase Walker each added 20 points, with Stirtz dishing out 8 assists. Walker shot 66.7% from the field, while Stirtz hit 4 threes at a 44.4% clip.
Drake’s defense gave up 62 points in their last game, with the opposing team shooting 52% from the field, hitting 23 of their 44 attempts. Inside the arc, they connected on 57% of their shots, going 12/21.
From three-point range, the opposition made 11 of 23 attempts, shooting 47%. They also went 9/11 from the free-throw line, hitting 81% of their foul shots. Drake allowed 6 offensive rebounds.
Will the Indiana State Defense Show Up at Home?
Indiana State Sycamores Recent Game/Games
Indiana State’s season record dropped to 7-9 after a tough 118-65 road loss to Bradley on Wednesday. The Sycamores, who entered the game as +8.5 point underdogs, not only failed to cover the spread but also saw the game’s total points soar past the O/U line of 154.5, finishing at 183.
Indiana State found themselves in a deep hole early, trailing 66-33 at halftime. They managed just 32 points in the second half while allowing 52, highlighting their struggles on both ends of the court.
Indiana State struggled offensively in their last game, shooting just 31.5% from the field and 29% from three-point range. They managed to connect on 9 of 31 attempts from deep, with an effective field goal percentage of 40.7%. At the free-throw line, the Sycamores were solid, hitting 22 of 28 attempts for a 78.6% success rate.
Connor Dillon led the way with 20 points, shooting 5 of 7 from three-point range and 6 of 8 overall. Zek Montgomery and Jaquan Johnson each added 17 points, with Johnson also shooting 6 of 8 from the field. Duke Deen contributed 6 assists, while Ahmet Jonovic chipped in 12 points and 6 rebounds.
Indiana State’s defense struggled, giving up 118 points while allowing their opponent to shoot 55% from the field. They couldn’t contain the two-point shots, with the other team hitting 70% of their attempts (24/34).
From beyond the arc, Indiana State’s opponent made 16 threes on 42% shooting. The Sycamores also sent them to the line 25 times, where they converted 22 free throws (88%).