The Missouri State Bears (16-14, 10-7 MVC) welcome the Drake Bulldogs (22-8, 11-6 MVC) to JQH Arena as the regular season finishes up. The game begins at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 2, 2019.
Drake Bulldogs at Missouri State Bears Betting Odds
In their last outing, the Bears were beaten by the Illinois State Redbirds, 65-57, while the Bulldogs defeated the Indiana State Sycamores, 80-68.
Drake played a nearly perfect game. They had a fantastic free throw rate of 0.440 (above their season average of 0.231) and an effective field goal percentage of 0.580 (above their season average of 0.544). For those same stats, Indiana State was 0.221 and 0.390, respectively. Missouri State, on the other hand, held Illinois State to an effective field goal percentage of 0.426 (below their season average of 0.508). Missouri State’s Tulio Da Silva had a good game, finishing with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Tremell Murphy, meanwhile fueled Drake with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
In their first matchup this season, Ellingson led the Bulldogs to a 74-63 win. He was the game’s top overall scorer with 25 points. Drake launched 24 three pointers, making 11 of them (45.8 percent). Missouri State was, meanwhile, 4-15 (26.7 percent).
Second-chance points could be few and far between for Missouri State in this showdown. The Bears are among the country’s elite on the offensive glass, ranking 252nd in offensive rebounding percentage at 26.4 percent. Meanwhile, Drake ranks 79th in the NCAA at corralling defensive rebounds with a defensive rebounding percentage of 74.2 percent. Furthermore, the Bulldogs’ 43rd-ranked offense (effective field goal percentage of 0.545) will square off against the Bears’ 282nd-ranked defense (effective field goal percentage allowed of 0.525).
Drake at Missouri State Free Pick
Free College Basketball Pick: SU Winner – Drake, ATS Winner – Drake, O/U – Under
Betting Notes:
- Drake ranks 30th in assists per game (15.7) while Missouri State ranks 232nd (11.3).
- The Bears average 7.1 steals per game, which ranks 73rd in the country. The Bulldogs rank 197th in steals allowed per game (7.4).
- Missouri State ranks 62nd in blocks per game (3.9) while Drake ranks 75th in blocks allowed per game (3.0).
- The Bulldogs rank 101st in three pointers attempted per game (23.7) while the Bears rank 241st (20.1).
- Drake ranks 134th in rebounds per game (35.8) while Missouri State ranks 260th (31.5).
Bettings Trends:
- The Bulldogs’ average margin of victory in their last five games has been 4.4, down from 5.3 for the season.
- During their last five games, the Bears have scored an average of 60.0 points per game (9.5 below their season average) and allowed an average of 61.2 points per game (6.2 below their season average).