Texas Tech vs Drake Prediction, Preview & Odds: NCAA Tournament Second Round

Move over San Diego State. One awful performance against North Carolina, one 67-57 Drake upset over Missouri, and the Bulldogs now have the best scoring defense in college basketball.

At 31-3 the team knows how to win, the moment isn’t too big, and how it has some real work to do.

Texas Tech put up 46 threes to push past a plucky UNC Wilmington team 82-72. The offense can go in spurts, and it’ll have a fight on its hands against this Drake D.

The winner gets either John Calipari or Rick Pitino from the Arkansas vs St. John’s showdown.

Texas Tech vs Drake How To Watch

Date: Saturday, March 22
Venue: INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita, KS
Time: 6:10 pm ET
TV: TNT
Teams: (3) Texas Tech (26-8), (11) Drake (31-3)
Region: NCAA Tournament Schedule, Predictions, Previews

Why Texas Tech Will Win

Drake can pump up the offense when it has to, but this isn’t the type of team that can get into a track meet.

It managed to shut down a great-shooting Missouri team, but it was awful on the free throw line, only hit five threes, and it had to rely on that great defense and the overall style to push through.

Texas Tech will try to take the Bulldogs out of that right away.

Drake lost three games this season. Those happened to be three of the five games the other side made 40% from three. Texas Tech hits 38% from three and shot 40% or better 13 times. But …

Why Drake Will Win

It’s not like the Bulldogs haven’t dealt with this before.

They beat Vanderbilt. They beat Missouri. They beat Miami and Kansas State. Texas Tech might have a terrific offense, but the Bulldogs have been able to step up and score when needed.

The Red Raiders will do everything possible to get the O going and open things up, and Drake just won’t let it happen ... to a point.

Texas Tech vs Drake: Who Will Win?

Can Texas Tech create ways to score when things aren’t working? Missouri couldn’t buy a bucket in the first round for long stretches, and it turned it over way too much.

The Red Raiders will keep bombing their way over the top of the Bulldogs, they’re solid on the offensive glass, and they’ll drag this game into a little bit too much of an offensive fight for the Bulldogs.

Texas Tech vs Drake Prediction, Betting Lines

Prediction: Texas Tech 73, Drake 64
Texas Tech vs Drake Betting Lines
BetMGM Line: COMING, o/u: COMING
DraftKings Line: Texas Tech -8.5, o/u: 126.5
FanDuel Line: Texas Tech -9.5, o/u: 125.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2
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