The Drake Bulldogs pulled off an impressive win against Wichita State in their play-in game Thursday night. That win secured a spot in the Round of 64 and a showdown with the USC Trojans on Saturday. Drake has been a cover machine of late but is now set to face its best opponent of the season in USC. Behind NBA prospect Evan Mobley, USC is excited about their chances to make a deep run in the tournament. First, they will have to get through the team with a bulldog mentality. Let’s continue our NCAA Odds series and make a Drake-USC prediction and pick.
Here is how the sportsbooks have set the odds:
NCAA Odds: Drake-USC Odds
Drake Bulldogs +6 (-110)
USC Trojans -6 (-110)
Over 138 Points (-110)
Under 138 Points (-110)
Why Drake Could Cover The Spread
The Drake Bulldogs have had a terrific season in 2021. They added an impressive win to the resume as they overcame a deficit to defeat Wichita State to kick off the tournament. Even without leading scorer Shanquan Hemphill, the Bulldogs were able to generate enough offense to come away with the W. Drake had an uncharacteristic route to victory as they've averaged 77.4 points per game to date. They will look to get back on track as they enter a new weight class on Saturday.
Drake possesses the seventh most efficient offense in the country, shooting 49.4% from the field and 37% from beyond the arc. Much of this success lies on the back of Shanquan Hemphill. Hemphill has been sidelined with a foot injury since February 10th and made a heroic return to the court for his Bulldogs Thursday night. Heroic in the fact that he played, but not as much in the contribution he provided. Hemphill played limited minutes and scored three points on one of three shooting. The Bulldogs will need a huge performance from Joseph Yesufu (12.4 ppg) if they want to at least keep with the sixth-seeded Trojans.
Why USC Could Cover The Spread
Led by the Mobley brothers, the USC Trojans are a legitimate threat to reach the Final Four. The Mobley's absolutely own the paint in every single matchup. They are a legitimate two-headed monster in the paint. Much of the Trojans' success lies on the back of NBA prospect Evan Mobley (16.8 ppg). He is by far the best player Drake has seen thus far. USC has seen a lot of success in the Pac 12, leading the conference in field goal percentage against (39.4%). The Trojans are licking their chops.
We have to solely focus on the Mobley's in this matchup. They are the difference makers. USC averages 5.3 blocks per game, which is good for seventh in the nation. The Trojans average 39.5 rebounds per game. The Mobley's combine to average sixteen rebounds per game. They also secure 12.2 offensive rebounds per game. They are one of the best defensive teams in the country and will absolutely abuse the Bulldogs in the paint and on the boards.
Final Drake-USC Prediction & Pick
You will be sitting in front of your TV on Saturday feeling bad for the Drake Bulldogs. Hopefully, they prove people wrong and make this a game, but this one has all of the makings of a blowout. Shanquan Hemphill's injury is a huge blow. Drake doesn't have enough firepower to stick around without him. The welterweight Drake Bulldogs are going up to the heavyweight division to face Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali. The Mobley brothers are going to abuse the Bulldogs in the paint. They will create a ton of second-chance points, which will prove to be the difference. USC wins this one big!
FINAL PICK: USC -6 (-110)
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