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The 11th-seeded Drake Bulldogs (31-3) and third-seeded Texas Tech Red Raiders (26-8) meet in an NCAA Tournament second-round game in the West Region Saturday. Tip-off from INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas, is scheduled for 6:10 p.m. ET (TNT). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Drake vs. Texas Tech odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.
No. 11 seed Drake stayed hot Thursday night, winning its 8th straight with a 67-57 upset over the sixth-seeded Missouri Tigers. The Bulldogs covered as 6-point underdogs and the Under (133.5) hit. Leading scorer G Bennett Stirtz led the way with 21 points, while Drake’s defense held the Tigers to their second-lowest point total of the season.
No. 3 seed Texas Tech took care of business against the No. 14 seed UNC-Wilmington Seahawks Thursday night, winning 82-72 but falling short of covering the 15-point spread. The Over (143.5) hit as the Red Raiders’ defense forced 13 turnovers. G Kerwin Walton led all scorers with 27 points, while G Elijah Hawkins recorded his sixth double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 assists.
– Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll
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Drake vs. Texas Tech odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 6:11 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Drake +240 (bet $100 to win $240) | Texas Tech -300 (bet $300 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Drake +7.5 (-118) | Texas Tech -7.5 (-102)
- Over/Under (O/U): 126.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Drake vs. Texas Tech picks and predictions
Prediction
Texas Tech 65, Drake 59
Moneyline
PASS.
Texas Tech (-300) will end Drake’s terrific season Saturday, but those Bulldogs will put up a fight. I’ll take my wager to the spread.
Against the spread
BET DRAKE +7.5 (-118).
Drake has proved it can compete at a high level, despite coming from a mid-major conference. With wins over Kansas State, Miami, Missouri, and Vanderbilt this season, the Bulldogs have shown they can hang with top programs. Their calling card is defense, holding opponents to just 58.4 points per game (PPG). That lockdown defense was on full display Thursday, limiting Missouri — an 83.6 PPG team — to just 57 points.
Texas Tech is a strong, well-rounded team that should come out on top, but covering the spread is another story. The Red Raiders have failed to cover in 4 of their last 5 games, while Drake has covered in 3 of its last 4. The Bulldogs defense will make this one competitive down to the wire. Expect Texas Tech to win, but Drake to keep it close and cover Saturday evening.
Over/Under
BET UNDER 126.5 (-105).
This total is low, but I still see it going Under. Drake’s defense has been elite, leading to the Under hitting in its last 4 games and 7 of the last 10. Texas Tech has gone Over in 5 of its last 6, but those matchups were against teams that wanted to push the pace and play a high-scoring game. That’s not how Drake operates. The Bulldogs prefer a slow, half-court style that limits possessions. Meanwhile, Texas Tech’s defense has been solid as well, holding opponents to 67.7 PPG this season. Expect a grind-it-out battle that stays under the total.
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