Drake Bulldogs vs Missouri State Bears Betting Pick & Prediction 1/24/24
Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Bulldogs and Bears. The game is starting at 8:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Bears at Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield, MO. Get ready to place your bets! Drake come into this Missouri Valley conference matchup as the -7 favorite. The over/under line currently sits at 141.5 points.
DRAKE BULLDOGS VS MISSOURI STATE BEARS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Missouri State Bears +7
This game will be played at Great Southern Bank Arena at 8:00 ET on Wednesday, January 24th.
WHY BET THE MISSOURI STATE BEARS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-68 in favor of the Bears.
- Not only will Missouri State pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +7.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 141.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 144 points.
Can the Bulldogs Pull Off a Road Win?
Drake enters this game with a 16-3 record and they have been especially dominant at home, going a perfect 11-0. On the road, they are 4-3 this season, and their average scoring margin is +2.6 points per game.
So far this season, Drake has been favored in 17 of their 19 games and they have gone 14-3 in those games. Over their last ten road games, they have gone 5-5.
Drake has an overall ATS record of 10-8 this season and they are 9-8 vs the spread when they are the favorite. On the road, the Bulldogs have gone 3-4 vs the spread this year and they have a last 10 road ATS mark of 4-6. In their last 3 games as the favorite, Drake has gone 3-0 vs the spread.
Drake’s over/under record this season is 9-9 and today’s line of 141.5 is lower than the average over/under line in their games (145.2). So far, 12 of their games have finished with more points than today’s line. In their last three games, the over/under record is 1-2 with an average scoring total of 137 points.
In their latest game, Drake’s offense looked good, scoring 97 points against Evansville. They recorded an overall field goal percentage of 63.9% and made 7/13 free throws. Tucker DeVries is the current leading scorer for the team, with an average of 20.1 as they approach today’s matchup. In addition, Atin Wright brings a PPG average of 14.6 into the game.
Currently, the Bulldogs’ defense holds the 61st rank in the nation, allowing 66.7 points per game. In terms of field goal percentage allowed, Drake’s defense has allowed opponents to shoot 43.0% from the field, including a three-point shooting percentage allowed of 32.6% this season.
Will the Bears Defense Show Up at Home?
Missouri State enters tonight’s game as a +7 underdog and is 10-9 overall this season. The Bears have lost two straight games and are 2-6 in Missouri Valley Conference play. At home, Missouri State is 7-3 this season, and they have gone 7-3 in their last 10 home games.
So far this season, the Bears have been the underdog in nine of their 19 games, going 3-6 in those matchups. In their last game, Missouri State lost to Illinois State by a score of 69-60.
Missouri State has an ATS record of 8-9-1 this season, including a mark of 6-4 at home. Over their last 10 games as the underdog, the Bears are 3-5-2 vs. the spread.
Today’s over/under line of 141.5 is very close to the average over/under line in Missouri State games this season (141.6). So far, 11 of their games have finished with more points than today’s line. Over their last three games, the average scoring total is 139 points per game, and their over/under record during this stretch is 0-3. On the season, their over/under record is 7-11.
Compared to their season average of 70.1 points per game, Missouri State struggled in their previous game. Against Illinois State, the Bears scored 60 points while finishing with a field goal percentage of 33.9%. Currently leading the team in scoring is Brad Mason who comes into today’s matchup averaging 17.1. Donovan Clay also heads into the game with a PPG average of 13.8.
Currently, the Bears’ defense holds the 103rd rank in the nation, allowing 69.6 points per game. So far, the Missouri State defense is giving up an average of 8.2 offensive rebounds per game and are turning teams over 12.1 times per game (586th).