The Drake Bulldogs (21-6, 12-4 MVC) and Northern Iowa Panthers (12-14, 8-8) meet Wednesday for a Missouri Valley Conference tilt in Cedar Falls. The contest at McLeod Center will tip off at 9 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Drake vs. Northern Iowa odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Drake enters on a 7-game win streak. The Bulldog offense has been cranked up and has scored 80 or more points in 5 of those wins. One of those wins was an 88-81 double-overtime triumph over Northern Iowa on Feb. 1. DU is 5-1 across its last half-dozen meetings against UNI, but the last 3 games in the series have gone past regulation.
The Panthers head into Wednesday’s game on a streak of a different kind. Northern Iowa has lost 5 straight (1-4 against the spread). Struggles on the boards have been costly as UNI has logged just 4.5 offensive rebounds per game over its last 6 games.
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Drake at Northern Iowa odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:51 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Off the board (OTB)
- Against the spread (ATS): Drake -6.5 (-105) | Northern Iowa +6.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 137.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Drake at Northern Iowa picks and predictions
Prediction
Drake 75, Northern Iowa 67
Moneyline
The moneyline was OTB at the time of publication. Drake will likely be too expensive for a standalone wager when this does open. Focus on the spread and/or the total instead.
PASS.
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Against the spread
The road team has won 4 straight ATS in this series.
That’s the small-to-moderate lean here. Drake is on a nice roll and its offensive efficiency numbers of late have been quite good and consistent. Consider a partial-unit play on the BULLDOGS -6.5 (-105).
Over/Under
The Over is 5-0 in Drake’s last 5 games overall, 5-0 in its last 5 road games, 5-1-1 in UNI’s last 7 games against teams playing .600 ball and 3-1 across the last 4 DU-UNI games.
This figures as a mid-pace game and many of the normal point-spiral factors swing toward the low side except for Drake’s recent 3-point shooting (51.6% last 3 games).
However, add in the fact that both sides have had schedules tilt toward more difficulty in the defenses they’ve faced.
This one figures more as a 140-to-145 proposition. BACK THE OVER 137.5 (-105).
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