The Missouri Valley Conference tournament tips off on Thursday, with Drake facing Southern Illinois in a meeting between two teams that split their regular-season series. Southern Illinois enters the game with a 16-15 record and improved form late in the year, while Drake arrives at 12-19 and is struggling through a lengthy losing streak. Before this contest begins to start off Arch Madness, you can continue reading to get my Drake vs Southern Illinois prediction in the betting markets.
Our Drake vs Southern Illinois Pick
Pick:
Confidence: 3 out of 5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Drake Bulldogs vs Southern Illinois Salukis
- Date & Time: Thursday, March 5, 4:30 PM ET
- Venue: Enterprise Center, St. Louis, Missouri
- Broadcast: ESPN+
Key Storylines
This game features two teams heading in very different directions. Drake limps into the tournament after dropping nine straight games, including a 75-53 defeat against Northern Iowa in its latest outing. Offensive consistency has been a problem during that stretch, as the Bulldogs have frequently struggled to generate efficient scoring.
Southern Illinois, on the other hand, has closed the regular season in far better form. The Salukis have won four of their last five games, including an 81-67 victory against Evansville. That stretch has helped them regain confidence entering tournament play and positioned them as a clear favorite against a Drake team that has struggled late in the season.
The season series has been competitive. Southern Illinois claimed a 66-61 win in the most recent meeting in February, while Drake captured an earlier matchup 76-73 in overtime. That history suggests this matchup could again remain tight deep into the second half.
Key Players
Southern Illinois Salukis
- Quelron House – Leads the Salukis offensively with 14.7 points per game. His ability to create shots off the dribble makes him a focal point of the offense.
- Rolyns Aligbe – A key rebounder who helps control games on the glass. He averages 7.1 boards per game and will be essential in preventing second chances for Drake.
Drake Bulldogs
- Jalen Quinn – One of Drake’s most productive scorers this season, leading the team with 19.1 points per game on 46% shooting from the field.
- Okku Federiko – Federiko averages five rebounds per game to lead the Bulldogs, but nearly two of those boards each game come on the offensive end of the floor and his ability to create extra shots is important for Drake.
Stat Comparison
| Stat | Drake | Southern Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Points per game | 75.3 | 73.3 |
| Points allowed per game | 75.2 | 69.6 |
| Team Field Goal % | 44% | 45% |
| Rebounds Per Game | 35.8 | 37.9 |
| Assists Per Game | 13.3 | 13.6 |
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- Southern Illinois won the most recent meeting 66-61 in February.
- Drake previously won the earlier meeting this season, 76-73 in overtime.
- Drake is 0-9 straight up in its last 9 games.
- Drake is 0-6 against the spread in its last 6 games.
- Southern Illinois is 6-1 straight up in its last 7 games.
- Southern Illinois is 6-1 against the spread in its last 7 games.
Drake vs Southern Illinois Model Projection
Score Projection:
Win Probability:
Final Thoughts
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