Northern Iowa Panthers vs Drake Bulldogs NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/29/25
The Panthers and Bulldogs are set to face off at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The Bulldogs will host the game at The Knapp Center in Des Moines, IA. The over/under for this Missouri Valley conference contest is set at 123 points, with Drake being favored by -7.5 at home against Northern Iowa.
NORTHERN IOWA PANTHERS VS DRAKE BULLDOGS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Northern Iowa Panthers +7.5
This game will be played at The Knapp Center at 7:00 ET on Wednesday, January 29th.
WHY BET THE NORTHERN IOWA PANTHERS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-71 in favor of the Bulldogs.
- Even though we have Drake winning straight-up, we like Northern Iowa at +7.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 123 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.
Are the Panthers Ready for a Road Win?
Northern Iowa Panthers Recent Game/Games
Northern Iowa improved to 12-8 on the season with a 74-56 road win over Indiana State on Saturday. The Panthers entered the game as -3.5 favorites and covered the spread with the victory.
Northern Iowa led 38-26 at halftime and continued to control the game, outscoring the Sycamores 36-30 in the second half. The total points for the game were 130, falling well short of the 154.5-point O/U line.
Northern Iowa put up 74 points in their last game, shooting 48.1% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 55.6%. They connected on 41.2% of their three-point attempts, going 7-for-17, and hit 71.4% from the free-throw line, making 15 of 21 shots.
Jacob Hutson led the way with 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Markus Harding added 16 points, hitting 4 of 7 from beyond the arc. Ben Schwieger contributed 15 points, shooting 62.5% overall and 50% from three-point range.
Northern Iowa’s defense was solid, holding their opponent to just 56 points on 34% shooting from the field. They limited two-point opportunities, with the other team making only 11 of 27 attempts for 40%.
From beyond the arc, Northern Iowa’s defense kept the pressure on, as their opponent shot 28% on 8 of 28 three-point attempts. They also sent the other team to the line 16 times, where they converted 10 free throws (62%).
Can Drake Live Up to the Hype at Home?
Drake improved to 16-2 on the season with a 69-62 road win over Missouri State on Saturday. The Bulldogs entered the game as -8.5 favorites but didn’t cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 131, surpassing the O/U line of 118.5.
Drake led 35-25 at halftime but allowed Missouri State to score 30 points in the 2nd half while managing just 20 points themselves. Despite the win, the Bulldogs will look to tighten up their defense and maintain their offensive output in future games.
Drake put up 69 points in their last game, shooting 43.1% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 49%. They hit 37.5% from beyond the arc, going 6-for-16, and connected on 79.2% of their free throws, making 19 of 24 attempts.
Michael Osei-Bonsu led the way with 24 points and 13 rebounds, shooting 62.5% from the field. Vincent Brady II also shot 62.5%, hitting 4 of 7 threes, while Bennett Stirtz added 18 points and 4 assists.
Drake’s defense gave up 62 points, allowing their opponent to shoot 50% from the field with 24 made baskets on 48 attempts. Inside the arc, they connected on 16 of 28 shots, good for 57% shooting.
From three-point range, Drake’s opponent hit 8 of 20 attempts, shooting 40%. At the free-throw line, they went 6 for 12, shooting 50%. Drake also allowed 10 offensive rebounds.