Well, folks, March Madness is finally here, and we have a full weekend jam-packed with non-stop basketball.
It is March, so there’s bound to be some upsets on day one, and in the case of 11-seeded Drake vs six-seeded Missouri, I think there may be one brewing. Read on to find out why and everything else you need to know about Drake vs. Missouri.
Drake vs. Missouri Betting Preview
All Drake vs. Missouri odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
- Spread
Missouri -5.5 - Moneyline
Kentucky -270, Arkansas +220 - Over/Under
133.5 - Game Time
Thursday, March. 19, 7:35 p.m. ET - Location
Intrust Bank Arena | Wichita, Kansas - How To Watch
TruTV
Drake and Missouri are opposites in terms of play style. Drake ranks dead last in the entire country in terms of possessions per game, meaning they slow their offense down and go deep into the shock clock on each possession.
Missouri plays at a much faster pace and likes to get out and run in transition, so these teams’ tempos alone make this a very interesting matchup.
Against the spread Missouri is 18-15 this season but when they’re playing non SEC schools that number drops to 5-8. Drake is 17-14 against the spread this season and have played seven games on neutral sites where they covered six of those seven games.
As you may have guessed, Missouri’s games tend to go over, while Drake’s games tend to go under. In Missouri’s 33 contests this season, the over has hit 20 times while the under has hit 13. In Drake’s 31 contests, the under hit 19 times, while the over only hit 12.
For that reason, I would advise to avoid the total in this match.
Prediction for Arkansas vs. Kentucky
This game is tough to accurately predict as both these teams are so different but I think if Drake doesn’t go down early they can upset Missouri.
The key in this game is going to be Missouri’s offense against Drakes defense. Missouri’s offense is ranked ninth in the country in terms of points per game while Drakes defense is ranked first in the country in points per game.
KEEP READING: The Top 10 Offenses in the 2025 NCAA Tournament
If Drake can play that suffocating defense that led them to 30 wins this season, I think that on top of their pace of play will get Missouri out of rhythm and help them win.
I think this game remains close throughout, but in the end, it’s the Bulldogs that pull off the upset and beat Missouri in Round 1. To be safe I would just take Drake spread if you were to bet this.
Prediction: Drake 66, Missouri 65
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