Drake (26-3) vs Missouri State (9-21)
March 2, 2025 at 03:00 PM EST
The Line: Betting Odds: Drake -14.5 — Over/Under: 119.5
The Missouri State Bears are visiting the Drake Bulldogs on Sunday, March 2nd at the Knapp Center. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Missouri State Bears vs Drake Bulldogs Prediction. We will examine:
The Drake Bulldogs son recent form and player performance
The Missouri State Bears recent form and player performance
Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Drake Bulldogs
Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Missouri State Bears
Recent betting trends in games played between Missouri State Bears and Drake Bulldogs
A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for Missouri State Bears vs Drake Bulldogs game
Drake Bulldogs Preview
The Drake Bulldogs have a 26-3 record this season and are sitting on the first place of the Missouri Valley. The Bulldogs are coming off a 65-61 win in Evansville. The Bulldogs are 15-12 against the spread, and 11-16 in over/under, while having a 13-2 home record.
Offensively, Drake is averaging 70.9 points per game, which ranks 270th in the nation. Defensively, they are allowing 59.2 points per game, which is the third-best nationally. The Bulldogs shoot with 48.7% from the field, which is the 17th-best in the nation, and with 36.4% from beyond the arc (58th). The Bulldogs shoot with 70.7% from the free throw line (232nd), and are grabbing 30.8 rebounds per game (348th).
Bennett Stirtz leads Drake scoring this season, with an average of 18.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and a team-high 6 assists, while Daniel Abreu adds 11.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.
Missouri State Bears Preview
The Missouri State Bears have a 9-21 record this season and are sitting on the 12th place of the Missouri Valley. The Bears are coming off a 65-74 loss by Belmont. The Bears are 16-12 against the spread, and 13-15 in over/under, while having a 1-11 road record.
Offensively, Missouri State is averaging 68.7 points per game, which ranks 306th in the nation. Defensively, they allow 71 points per game (155th). The Bears shoot with 45.2% from the field (159th), and with 35.4% from beyond the arc (98th). The Bears shoot with 65.3% from the free-throw line (350th), and are grabbing 32.9 rebounds per game (309th).
Dez White leads Missouri State in scoring this season, with an average of 14.2 points and 2.8 rebounds, while Vincent Brady adds 13.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.
Why the Drake Bulldogs will win
- Missouri State has lost each of its last 10 road games.
- Drake has won 34 of its last 36 games at Knapp Center.
- Drake has won the first half in 13 of its last 14 games against the Missouri Valley Conference.
Why the Missouri State Bears will win
- The road team has won four of Drake’s last five games.
- The road team has won the first half in four of Drake’s last five games.
Total Points Facts
- Each of Missouri State’s last 17 games against Conference opponents have produced a total of 121+ points.
- Seventy-one of Drake’s last 76 games against non-AP-ranked opponents at Knapp Center have produced a total of 120+ points.
Matchup/League Facts
- Drake ranks 1st among Division 1 teams for opponent rebounds per game this season (24.8).
- Drake ranks 1st among Division 1 teams for opponent assist to turnover ratio this season (0.67).
- Missouri State ranks 17th among Division 1 teams for opponent field goal attempts per game this season (53.0).
- Missouri State ranks 19th among Division 1 teams for opponent rebounds per game this season (30.8).
Missouri State Bears vs Drake Bulldogs Prediction
Missouri State is 5-2 in their last 7 meetings against Drake, and are 6-2 against the spread in their last 8 meetings. Under is 5-3 in their last 8 meetings, and in their most recent meeting last season, Drake won 69-62 in overtime on the road, not covering the spread, as the game went over the point total.
In this Missouri State Bears vs Drake Bulldogs Prediction, Drake coming as -14.5 home favorites. Drake is rightfully favored, as they have a superior record this season, and have been extremely strong at home, while Missouri State has been terrible on the road, with just one win in their 12 road games. Both teams have been in good form lately, as Drake is 8-2 in their last 10 games, and Missouri State is 7-3 against the spread in their last 10. Both teams have been playing some lower-scoring games lately, as they are 7-2 to the under in their last 9 games combined, as both are ranked on the bottom-100 of the nation in points scored. Take the under the point total.