Missouri vs Drake Prediction, Preview & Odds: NCAA Tournament First Round

Originally posted on College Football News
By Pete Fiutak | Last updated Mar 19, 2025 4:38 AM ET

There’s a whole lot for Missouri to worry about.

The Tigers fell off the map late in the season losing four of its last five games - but beat Mississippi State in the SEC Tournament.

It’s an inconsistent team that had a few great moments, but it has to deal with a Drake team that might be the real deal out of the one-bid leagues.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, Drake went 30-3, but that’s in the Missouri Valley Conference. Fine, yes, but but it beat Vanderbilt, won at Kansas State, and was nearly flawless outside of a two-game losing stretch in four days at the beginning of 2025.

The winner gets either Texas Tech or UNC Wilmington on Saturday.

Missouri vs Drake Game Preview

Missouri vs Drake How To Watch

Date: Thursday, March 20
Venue: INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita, KS
Time: 7:35 pm ET
TV: truTV
Teams: (11) Drake (30-3), (6) Missouri (22-11)
Region: West
NCAA Tournament Schedule, Predictions, Previews

Why Drake Will Win

Why are the Bulldogs so good?

There’s a decent mix of size and experience, and it has the No. 1 scoring defense in college basketball allowing just 58.4 points per game.

It limits the possessions, so it doesn’t give up a whole lot of shots - statistically, Drake is awful at coming up with defense rebounds, but it dominates the rebounding margin because it’s decent on the offensive glass.

It forces plenty of turnovers, controls the pace, and on the year allowed 80 or more points just once, and it took overtime to get there. But …

Why Missouri Will Win

Missouri’s defense went bye-bye in the late season losses, however, there’s a common thread in all five defeats in the 2-5 finish.

Arkansas scored 92 points in its win. Vanderbilt put up 97, Oklahoma 96, Kentucky 91, and in the SEC Tournament loss, Florida put up 95.

Drake doesn’t win by pumping in a ton of points. It wins on defense, but Missouri - even when things go wrong - will score. Drake will be pulled out of its comfort zone, because …

Missouri vs Drake: Who Will Win?

Mizzou is very deep, led the SEC in field goal percentage, makes a ton of free throws, and it shoots too well.

In almost any other 6 vs 11 matchup Drake and its style and D would take over. The Bulldogs caught a bad break getting the Tigers - Missouri is 19-2 when keeping the other side under 80 points.

Missouri vs Drake Prediction, Betting Lines

Prediction: Missouri 69, Drake 64
Missouri vs Drake Betting Lines
BetMGM Line: Missouri -6.5, o/u: 132.5
DraftKings Line: Missouri -6.5, o/u: 132.5
FanDuel Line: Missouri -6.5, o/u: 132.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2.5

First Look Quick Analysis, Predictions
East | Midwest | South | West
Fiu Bluesky | CFN Bluesky | CFN X | CFN FB