Drake vs Murray State NCAAB Preview and Prediction 3/03/23

Odds

2022-2023 season stats

Preview

The Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Tournament Quarterfinals will see the Drake Bulldogs and the Murray State Racers go head to head on March 3rd, 2023, at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri. Drake, who finished the regular season with a 24-7 record, enters the game as heavy favorites, with a spread of -11.0 points. Murray State, on the other hand, will be hoping to pull off an upset and advance to the next round of the tournament.

Murray State Racers

The Murray State Racers had an up-and-down season in the OVC, finishing with an 11-9 conference record and a 17-14 record overall. Their offense has been solid, averaging 70.7 points per game, but their defense has been a bit of a liability, allowing 72.0 points per game.

Rayshawn Perry has been the team's leading scorer this season, averaging 14.1 points per game on 42.6% shooting from the field. He is a quick and athletic guard who can get to the basket and finish in traffic. Demond Burns has been the team's leading rebounder, averaging 6.7 rebounds per game while also contributing 9.5 points per game.

Defensively, the Racers will need to be at their best in order to slow down the Drake offense. They will be looking to players like KJ Williams and Darnell Cowart in the frontcourt to protect the rim and limit second-chance opportunities.

Overall, the Murray State Racers will need to play a near-perfect game in order to upset the heavily favored Drake Bulldogs. Their offense will need to be firing on all cylinders, and their defense will need to find a way to slow down the Bulldogs' potent attack. It won't be easy, but if they can execute their game plan, they could pull off the upset and advance to the semifinals of the MVC Tournament.

Drake Bulldogs

The Drake Bulldogs had a successful season in the MVC, finishing with a 15-5 conference record and a 24-7 record overall. Their success has been built on a strong defensive foundation, as they have allowed just 64.8 points per game, which is the best mark in the MVC. The Bulldogs' offense has also been solid, averaging 75.6 points per game, which is the second-best mark in the conference.

Tucker DeVries has been the standout player for the Bulldogs this season, averaging 18.9 points per game on 44.9% shooting from the field. He is a versatile scorer who can get to the basket or knock down shots from beyond the arc. Roman Penn has been the team's primary facilitator, averaging 5.3 assists per game while also contributing 10.0 points per game.

Defensively, the Bulldogs have been excellent all season long, and they will be looking to shut down the Murray State offense in this game. With players like D.J. Wilkins and Darnell Brodie in the frontcourt, Drake has the size and athleticism to match up with anyone.

BETTING TRENDS

The total has gone OVER in 13 of Murray State's last 16 games.

Murray State are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games.

The total has gone OVER in 7 of Murray State's last 10 games against an opponent in the Missouri Valley conference.

Murray State are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games played in March.

Murray State are 7-2 SU in their last 9 games played on a Friday.

The total has gone OVER in 9 of Murray State's last 10 games when playing as the underdog.

Drake are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games.

The total has gone OVER in 10 of Drake's last 15 games.

Drake are 10-1 SU in their last 11 games.

Drake are 9-1 SU in their last 10 games against an opponent in the Missouri Valley conference.

Prediction

While the Murray State Racers have had a decent season, they simply don't match up well against the Bulldogs. Drake has a strong defensive unit that should be able to slow down the Murray State offense, while their own offense should have no trouble putting points on the board.

Tucker DeVries is an elite scorer who should be able to get his shot off against anyone, and he will be the key player to watch in this game. The Bulldogs also have a number of other talented players, including Roman Penn and Darnell Brodie, who can contribute on both ends of the floor.

On the other hand, the Murray State Racers will need to be firing on all cylinders if they want to keep this game close. Rayshawn Perry is a talented scorer who can get hot from the outside, and he will need to have a big game if the Racers hope to pull off the upset.

However, I believe that the Bulldogs are simply too strong on both ends of the floor, and they should be able to win this game comfortably. They have the better overall team, and they have been playing at a high level all season long. Look for the Bulldogs to come out on top and advance to the semifinals of the MVC Tournament.

In summary, I trust that the Drake Bulldogs will win this game and cover the -11 points spread. With a strong defense and a talented offense, they should be able to outplay the Murray State Racers in all facets of the game. It should be an exciting matchup, but we expect the Bulldogs to come out on top in the end.

PICK: Drake -11 (-110)

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