Drake vs. Washington State Expert Pick – March 21, 2024

DRAKE VS. WASHINGTON STATE EXPERT PICK – MARCH 21, 2024 – We have every game previewed over here at GodzillaWins! Thursday’s East Region matchup will pit #10 Drake (28-6) against the Washington State Cougars (24-9).

Let’s see if there’s any value on the lower seed to pull the upset.

Related: Northwestern vs. FAU Expert Pick

The Odds 

Matchup	Open	Spread	Points	Moneyline
Drake (28-6 SU,18-15 ATS)	O138.5	-1.5	O137.5	-121
Washington State (24-9 SU,17-15-1 ATS)	-1.5	+1.5	U137.5	+100

 

Tipoff 

When: Thursday, March 21 at 10:05 p.m. EST 

Where: CHI Health Center Omaha, Omaha, NE

TV: Tru TV

Public Bets: Unavailable 

Public Money: Unavailable

Odds courtesy of DraftKings, as of March 20th, 2024

Drake vs. Northwestern In-Season Trends

Nobody wanted to face Drake early in the tournament. They are a veteran squad with one of the most exciting players in the country in Tucker DeVries. This is a solid shooting team that averages 37% from deep, making around nine 3s per game.

Drake absolutely pasted Nevada and beat Indiana State twice, so they’ve held up against tougher competition when they’ve encountered it.

Washington State typically has an advantage on the offensive glass with their tremendous size, but nobody in the country is better at corralling defensive rebounds than Drake. So that edge may be neutralized here.

Washington State has some solid shooters, but their real strength is on defense where they rank 27th in defensive efficiency. They will also look to slow the game down, ranking 314th in tempo.

Related: NC State vs. Texas Tech Expert Pick

The Difference-Makers

Drake is led by Tucker DeVries. He was the best player in the MVC, and is one of the best players in the country. He averaged almost 22 points per game and leads the team in rebounding, assists and steals. So goes DeVries, so go the Bulldogs. He’s the type of talent that can carry a team to victories in the tournament.

Washington State relies on the presence of Isaac Jones in the paint to run their offense effectively and he is a handful for anybody down low. Keeping him in check will be critical for Drake to contend here. Myles Rice will also be a problem at guard.

Related: Wagner vs. UNC Expert Pick

The Pick

I’m a sucker for stars that emerge in March and that is exactly what Tucker DeVries could be. They are a lower seed, but a deserving favorite here.

Washington State deserves to be here, but the Pac-12 was relatively unremarkable this season.

Drake is hungry and experienced. Winning here is the next thing for them to do.

Related: LBSU vs. Arizona Expert Pick

Nate’s Picks

Drake Bulldogs -1.5