Drake vs Washington State Odds, Predictions & Player Props to Bet (Mar. 21)

• No. 10 Drake battles No. 7 Washington State in first-round March Madness action
• The Bulldogs are slim favorites over the Cougars in this neutral site game
• Read below for Drake vs Washington State odds, predictions and player props to bet

The Drake Bulldogs (28-6) and Washington State Cougars (24-9) will face off in an intriguing 7 vs 10 matchup in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 10:05pm ET at CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska with the game televised on truTV.

Drake enters as a slight 1.5-point favorite with the over/under set at 138.5 points. College basketball player props have also been released, with oddsmakers forecasting a big evening from Bulldogs star Tucker DeVries.

Let’s analyze the Drake vs WSU odds, as we offer you our prediction and determine the best player props to bet.

Drake vs Washington State Odds

In the Drake vs Washington State odds, the Bulldogs are slim -122 favorites on the moneyline, giving them 55% implied win probability.

When it comes to the 2024 March Madness odds, both teams are massive longshots to win the tournament. But as we’ve seen in the past, anything can happen in the ‘The Big Dance’.

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Odds as of March. 20, 2024. Sign up with the Fanatics Sportsbook promo code to make a wager on Drake vs Washington. Bettors can also check out the best March Madness sportsbook promos.

Drake Betting Analysis

The Bulldogs are back in the Big Dance for the third time in four years after winning the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. Drake knocked off Indiana State 84-80 as a 3-point underdog in the MVC title game, capping an impressive run of three wins in three days. The Bulldogs have now won five straight and 10 of their last 11 games overall.

Drake boasts a high-powered offense that ranks 38th in KenPom’s adjusted offensive efficiency. The Bulldogs are led by star junior forward Tucker DeVries, who averages 21.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game while shooting 46.5% from the field and 82.5% from the free throw line.

Tucker DeVries returns home to Omaha for the biggest stage of his career! ⁰⁰@Tucker_DeVries joins @annaambrose76 on the meaning of being back in his hometown.#MarchMadness | @UnionBankTrust pic.twitter.com/3zFvkVBx2c

— Hurrdat Sports (@HurrdatSports) March 20, 2024

Senior forward Darnell Brodie (11.3 ppg, 7.9 rpg) and junior guard Atin Wright (13.9 ppg) provide strong secondary scoring options for Drake. The Bulldogs shoot a solid 36.8% from three-point range as a team and make their free throws at a 76% clip, which could be key in a close game.

However, Drake has been inconsistent against the spread this season with a 18-15 ATS record. The Bulldogs are 5-2 ATS in neutral court games though. Drake has gone over the total in six of its last nine contests.

Washington State Betting Analysis

Washington State stumbled a bit down the stretch, losing three of its final six games including a 58-52 defeat to Colorado in the Pac-12 Tournament. However, the Cougars still put together an impressive season that included a win over 2-seed Arizona.

The Cougars hang their hat on the defensive end, ranking 27th in KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency. Opponents are shooting just 32% from beyond the arc against Washington State. The Cougars also do a great job on the glass, ranking in the top 50 nationally in both offensive and defensive rebounding percentage.

Offensively, Washington State is led by junior guard Isaac Jones, who averages 14.1 points on an efficient 58% shooting. The Cougars have a balanced attack with four players averaging over nine field goal attempts per game. Myles Rice (10.5 ppg) and Jaylen Wells (9.8 ppg) are streaky scorers capable of big games.

Washington State ended the regular season with a 16-15 record ATS and went 3-3 ATS in neutral site games. The Cougars have gone under the total in six of their last eight contests.

While Drake is fully healthy entering this one, WSU does have a couple of injuries to note. The Cougars will be without reserve guard Joseph Yesufu, who is out for the season with a hip injury.  Guard Dylan Darling, meanwhile. is questionable with a back injury.

Drake vs Washington State Player Props

This section will be updated with Drake vs. Washington player props once they are readily available at March Madness betting sites.

Drake vs Washington State Prediction

This shapes up as one of the most evenly-matched games of the first round. Drake’s offense vs Washington State’s defense is a classic clash of strengths. In a tight game, the edge usually goes to the better offensive team that can create shots and make free throws. That favors Drake with a dynamic scorer like DeVries.

However, Washington State’s size advantage can’t be overlooked, especially if it can dominate the offensive glass and get the Bulldogs in foul trouble. The Cougars also have the benefit of playing a tougher schedule in the Pac-12 compared to Drake in the MVC.

Ultimately, I give a slight lean to Drake -1.5 thanks to its free throw shooting and shotmaking ability with DeVries. But this is a toss-up that could easily go either way. The under 138.5 is appealing given Washington State’s defensive prowess and slower tempo.

Thursday March Madness Picks:

• Drake -1.5 (-105)
• Under 138.5 Points (-110)