Tarleton vs Drake Betting Preview
The Goldsheet gives their Tarleton vs Drake betting preview coming from the UVI Sports & Fitness Center in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. Both Tarleton and Drake have reeled off a number of impressive non-conference wins so far heading into tonight’s Paradise Jame matchup.
Check out our College Basketball Free Picks page for betting thoughts from some of the country’s top handicappers.
Tarleton vs Drake Betting Odds
Monday, November 21 | College Basketball Betting Notes |
---|---|
Point Spread: | Tarleton Texans +7 vs Drake Bulldogs |
Total: | 132.5 Points |
Game Time: | 8:00pm ET / 5:00pm PT |
Arena: | UVI Sports & Fitness Center in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands (Odds Above by DraftKings) |
TV: | ESPN3 |
Tarleton vs Drake Analysis
Monday’s college basketball slate is loaded with marquee games from Brooklyn to the Bahamas, but Drake vs Tarleton State in the Paradise Jam should be one of the best mid-major matchups on the card.
Tarleton Tough on Defensive End
The Tarleton Texans are in their third year as a Division 1 program, and they are already making a splash under head coach Billy Gillispie.
The former Kentucky and Texas A&M front man has led Tarleton to a 3-1 start to the season with their lone loss coming by three points at Arizona State in the opener. The Texans’ defense is forcing turnovers on 28.6-percent of opponents’ possessions so far this season, which is No. 7 in the country.
In Sunday’s Paradise Jam opener, they forced Boston College into 20 turnovers as the Texans earned a 16-point victory as a four-point underdog. Through Tarleton’s first four games, they are shooting the fewest three-point attempts in the country.
That’s an appealing quality when you get to these unfamiliar tournament settings like this one in the Virgin Islands. The court layout is unfamiliar. The shooting backdrop is different. The less you have to rely on outside shooting, the better off you usually are in these tournament settings.
Drake Determined To Take Over A-10
On the flip side, Drake appears to be the class of the Missouri Valley this season. The Bulldogs lost to Loyola-Chicago in last year’s Arch Madness title game, but with the Ramblers now competing in the A-10, Drake looks poised to represent the conference in March.
The Bulldogs have started 4-0 with wins over quality mid-major programs like Wofford, Buffalo and Wyoming. Drake’s offense has been operating in midseason form, ranking in the top-50 in adjusted efficiency, turnover rate, two-point shooting and free throw shooting.
Senior point guard Roman Penn has been the catalyst to the Bulldogs’ offense in recent seasons, but he’s slowly coming back from a foot injury. He only played 18 minutes in Sunday’s win over Wyoming, but Drake will need him to be the steady hand to navigate Tarleton’s swarming defense.
Tarleton vs Drake Prediction
When you get to small schools like this, especially on a busy football weekend, things can sneak past the oddsmakers and betting market. Tarleton introduced an x-factor in yesterday’s win over Boston College, who might play a bigger role in today’s game.
Tiger Booker saw his first action with the Texans yesterday, scoring seven points in eight minutes. Booker was considered one of the best junior college players in the country last year, scoring 16.7 points per game.
Tarleton has managed to stay beneath the national radar, but that might change tonight if the Texans can pull off another upset in the Paradise Jam. Take Tarleton State plus the points against Drake in the Virgin Islands.
Prediction: Tarleton Texans +7
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College Basketball Stat Sheet
GoldSheet prepares a daily college basketball stat sheet, which offers a head-to-head comparison for how teams are performing in a number of key areas heading into a game. Check out Monday’s sheet, with notes on tonight’s Tarleton vs Drake contest.
Happy Hour Tip-Off Show
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The Happy Hour Tip-Off Show will broadcast Monday through Friday at 1:45pm ET / 10:45am PT. Pull up a barstool and join us as we break down tonight’s college basketball card, including this Tarleton vs Drake clash, from a sports betting perspective.
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Track the college basketball point spreads, moneylines, first half lines and betting percentages for all of Friday’s college basketball games, including this Tarleton vs Drake showdown, from your desktop or phone.
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