Missouri Tigers vs Drake Bulldogs Picks and Predictions March 20th 2025

No. 11 Seed Drake Done Waiting, Dialed in for Missouri

Missouri secured the No. 6 seed in the West Region of the NCAA Tournament and earned a first-round matchup against a dangerous 30-win conference champion in Drake. The two teams will square off in Wichita on Thursday.

Missouri Ready for Tournament Challenge

Missouri (22-11) is thrilled to be back in the NCAA Tournament after an 8-24 campaign last season. Head coach Dennis Gates is grateful not only for the bid but also for a regional placement that allows fans to travel easily.

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“It gives our fans a drivable distance to support us as they supported us all season. I’m thankful for it.” — Dennis Gates

The Tigers closed the regular season with losses in five of their final seven games. Leading scorer Mark Mitchell (14.1 points per game) suffered a minor knee injury in Missouri’s SEC Tournament win over Mississippi State and was held out of the following game against Florida to ensure his availability for March Madness.

Missouri’s offense runs through Mitchell, Caleb Grill (13.7 ppg), and Tamar Bates (13.4 ppg). Eight different Tigers have led the team in scoring at least once this season, showcasing Missouri’s depth. That depth will be tested against a defensive-minded Drake squad that thrives on slowing the pace.

Drake Poised for Upset Run

Drake (30-3) has been waiting 11 days since its last game, a 63-48 win over Bradley in the Missouri Valley Conference championship game. The Bulldogs swept both the MVC regular season and tournament titles, securing their fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in the past five years.

“I don’t care what anybody says about talent, and I think we got plenty of talent. But tough kids win championships. That’s what they do.” — Ben McCollum

Drake head coach Ben McCollum, who won four Division II national titles at Northwest Missouri State, took over the Bulldogs’ program after Darian DeVries departed for West Virginia. His transition to Division I has been seamless, and he now leads a team capable of making a deep tournament run.

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Contrasting Styles Could Decide Outcome

Missouri ranks ninth nationally in scoring at 84.5 points per game, thriving on fast-paced offense. Drake, on the other hand, leads the country in scoring defense, allowing just 58.4 points per game. The battle between Missouri’s high-powered attack and Drake’s suffocating defense will be a key storyline for those analyzing college basketball predictions ahead of this matchup.

The Bulldogs are led by Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year Bennett Stirtz, who averages 19.1 points per game and shoots 38% from three-point range. He is joined by Daniel Abreu (10.4 ppg) and Mitch Mascari (9.8 ppg), two players who followed McCollum from Northwest Missouri State to Drake. Their experience in a winning system could be a difference-maker against a Missouri team that has been inconsistent down the stretch.

“It’s a first-round game and anything can happen. Rankings and bids and all that other stuff doesn’t matter. All teams are capable of winning games.” — Dennis Gates

With Missouri looking to prove its place among the Power Five contenders and Drake aiming for a statement win, this 6-11 showdown has all the ingredients of a potential upset. Those keeping an eye on college basketball expert picks should consider whether Drake’s defense can slow Missouri enough to pull off the win.