The Drake Bulldogs will host the Charleston Cougars on Monday night in college basketball action. Both teams are 2-2 going into this matchup and they will look to get above the .500 mark for the year with a victory here. Before tip-off from South Carolina, you can continue reading to get my Drake vs Charleston prediction.
Our Drake vs Charleston Pick
- Pick: Charleston −5.5
- Confidence: ★★★☆☆
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Drake Bulldogs @ Charleston Cougars
- Date & Time: November 17, 2025, 7:00 PM ET
- Venue: TD Arena, Charleston, South Carolina
- Broadcast: FloSports
Key Storylines
- This is the first-ever regular-season meeting between Drake and Charleston, though both schools have a history with the Charleston Classic. These are two of the better mid-major programs in the recent history of college basketball and they will both look to make a statement in this contest.
- Drake’s losses this season have each been decided by 2 points and the competitive nature of those games could have them sharp enough to win this game.
- Charleston enters its second season under coach Chris Mack and has improved its frontcourt depth with new additions, including 6'9 forward Will Mortimore.
- Drake relies heavily on Bennett Stirtz, who last season averaged 19.2 points and 5.7 assists. His high usage rate makes him dangerous but also predictable.
- This is the first true road game of the season for the Drake Bulldogs. Charleston has won each of the first two games it has played on their home floor. That could end up being a significant factor in this contest.
- There is some added pressure in a game like this between two strong schools from smaller conferences. A win here is a nice resume builder that can help decide some of the final at-large spots in an NCAA Tournament. We will see who handles that pressure the best.
Betting Trends
- Drake is 0-3 against the spread going into this game.
- Charleston is 1-2 against the spread entering this matchup.
- Both teams are 2-1 to the over going into this matchup.
Drake vs Charleston Model Projection
Score Projection: Drake 70 – Charleston 76
Win Probability: Drake 38%, Charleston 62%
Final Thoughts
Charleston’s depth and home-court advantage should give Charleston the advantage in this matchup. Drake’s close losses show toughness in victory and defeat, but we should see Charleston get the job done on their home floor here. Look for them to limit Stirtz and for the Cougars to continue their unbeaten start on their home floor.
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