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Drake travels to the Hulman Center to face Indiana State on Saturday, January 24, 2026, in a crucial Missouri Valley Conference matchup. Tipoff is set for 1:00 PM ET. The Sycamores are slight home favorites at -2.5, while Drake comes in off a gritty stretch and already holds a head-to-head win over Indiana State earlier this month.
Oddsmakers have set the total at 149.5 points, which reflects both teams’ scoring profiles. Indiana State sits at -143 on the moneyline, with Drake at +115. With the conference race tightening and each game carrying weight in the standings, bettors should look closely at how tempo, efficiency, and late-game execution will shape this matchup.
Drake Bulldogs vs Indiana State Sycamores Odds
These are the current betting odds. Monitor for any late movement on the latest college basketball odds board.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drake Bulldogs | +115 | +2.5 (-113) | O 149.5 |
| Indiana State Sycamores | -143 | -2.5 (-110) | U 149.5 |
Drake Bulldogs Betting Form
Drake already owns a win over Indiana State this season, having taken a 74-72 home victory on January 4. That game wasn’t a fluke — Drake outplayed the Sycamores down the stretch and executed more cleanly in late possessions. Since then, Drake has kept games close and stayed competitive in nearly every outing. Their offensive core is centered around strong guard play and midrange execution, and they shoot well enough from deep to space the floor effectively.
One key to Drake’s value as an underdog is their ability to limit mistakes. They rank above average in turnover percentage and tend to slow the pace when they can’t get early looks. That’s especially useful in close road games. They also rebound well enough to limit second-chance damage, and their foul rate is manageable — meaning fewer freebies for opponents late.
While they aren’t dominant defensively, they have stretches where they contest well, especially off-ball. Drake tends to dictate the pace when they avoid early deficits.
Check the Drake Bulldogs injury report before tip, but there are no significant absences reported at this time.
For full team stats and game logs, visit the Drake Bulldogs schedule and stats.
Indiana State Sycamores Betting Form
Indiana State has had a solid season overall but has shown some volatility in high-leverage spots. Offensively, the Sycamores push pace more than Drake, and they rely heavily on transition scoring and rhythm three-point looks. When shots fall, they’re dangerous. But when they go cold, it gets ugly fast — especially in halfcourt sets where they sometimes over-dribble or settle.
At home, Indiana State scores about 77 points per game, but their defense isn’t airtight. They allow teams to shoot around 45% overall and sometimes lose track of weakside rotations, which Drake already exploited in their last meeting.
They’ll need to defend better without fouling, especially if this game is close late. They’ve blown second-half leads in two of their last four games and haven’t closed strong under pressure.
No key players are expected to miss this game, but you should always double-check the Indiana State Sycamores injury report for updates.
For deeper stats and metrics, see the Indiana State Sycamores schedule and stats.
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Drake vs Indiana State Matchup Breakdown
These two teams match up tightly, both in style and recent history. Drake wants a slower pace and thrives in the 60–70 possession range. Indiana State prefers to run and shoot early in the clock. Whoever dictates tempo likely controls this game.
Drake held Indiana State to just 5 made threes in their last meeting — below their season average. If they can replicate that effort on the perimeter, they’ll stay inside the number and possibly win outright. Indiana State’s shot profile relies on early-offense threes and backdoor cuts. Drake’s defensive communication will be tested.
Key areas to watch:
- Turnover margin: Drake’s discipline vs Indiana State’s aggressiveness
- Late-game fouling and free throws: both teams shoot around 70%, but Drake’s clutch FT% is slightly better
- Bench production: Indiana State uses a deeper rotation, but Drake’s top six are more efficient
If you’re newer to evaluating shot profile and pace as betting angles, check out the sports betting strategies to win big or dive into alternate total points concepts to shape your total game bets better.
Drake vs Indiana State Predictions and Best Bets
This is one of those classic “coin-flip” conference games where the line gives the slight edge to the home team. But Drake has already beaten Indiana State, has the better late-game shot creators, and is catching +2.5 — giving bettors a little extra cushion even in a close loss.
There’s real value in the underdog here. Drake has been the better late-game team, and they’ve proven they can execute in crunch time against this exact opponent. With no key injury concerns, and a clear path to controlling tempo, the +2.5 looks playable.
The total at 149.5 could be slightly inflated if Drake is able to slow the game. These teams combined for 146 earlier this month, and barring a major three-point spike, the Under is worth a lean. That said, the spread is the better edge.
Best Bet: Drake +2.5 (-113)
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