Richmond vs. Drake Odds
| Richmond Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+4.5 -110 | 148 +100o / -120u | +150 |
| Drake Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-4.5 -110 | 148 +100o / -120u | -170 |
The Richmond Spiders will take on the Drake Bulldogs at The Knapp Center.
Both teams lost major contributors from their 2020-2021 teams (Blake Francis for Richmond and Joseph Yesufu for Drake).
Drake is one of the most enigmatic teams for books to interpret. Meanwhile, Richmond fell short last season in an Atlantic 10, which was up for grabs.
Drake can crash the glass and efficiently produce on both ends of the floor, while Richmond has some issues with height and defensive gaps.
Drake might have some value on the spread.
Richmond Spiders
Led by Jacob Gilyard and Grant Golden, the Richmond Spiders are a strong offensive team.
The Spiders had some difficulty with injuries last season (mainly Nick Sherod). Even with the loss of Francis, who averaged over 16 points per game, they should finally be at full strength.
Richmond’s strength is in its guards. The Spiders have shot a ton of 3-pointers in this short season, so far. Their downtown percentage is 40.9%, which is impeccable. In addition, their effective field goal percentage, per KenPom, is 57.3%, and they rarely turn the ball over with Gilyard at the helm.
Outside of Tyler Burton, Golden and Nathan Cayo, they have some difficulty crashing the glass. This is their one apparent flaw on the offensive end, and that could help Drake thrive.
Drake can rebound from multiple positions. This is an issue Richmond might have in this matchup.
In addition to an issue with rebounding, the Spiders have a porous defense. They allow a 53.9% effective field goal percentage. Two of the three games they have played this season have come against decent teams in Georgia State and Utah State, but Drake is better than both of those opponents.
Richmond also allows a 40.3% 3-point percentage on defense. Drake has been on fire at 51.1% from downtown. The Bulldogs have strong defense at the guard position, so this is another edge to Drake.
Drake Bulldogs
The Drake Bulldogs were 21-8 ATS last year and bettors loved it, especially down the stretch of the season. They are 2-0 thus far this season, so the market may still have an inefficiency.
Drake returns its entire lineup — except Yesufu — and it has been even more efficient than last year through two games.
Drake is a strong rebounding team. Last season, it nabbed 32% of offensive boards and only allowed 25.2%. It had 43 in its game against South Dakota.
The Bulldogs had four players, who are on the current roster, who averaged at least five boards per game. With Richmond’s difficulties crashing the glass, this is a clear advantage for Drake.
Drake also hits 3-pointers. The Bulldogs shot 36.4% from 3 last year collectively and went 12-of-24 in their last contest. They also limited 3s to 30.4% last season on defense, while carrying that over to 23.5% this season.
Essentially, they have a similarly built team with seniors filling out the starting lineup.
Finally, Drake has a well-balanced and deeper bench than Richmond, which mainly thrives on its starting five. Drake, on the other hand, has eight guys averaging at least 16 minutes per game.
Last year, seven guys averaged at least seven points per game for the Bulldogs. Head coach Darian DeVries knows how to allow his players to facilitate the basketball.
Richmond vs. Drake Betting Pick
When it comes down to it, the Drake Bulldogs are an efficiently oiled machine.
Richmond has glaring issues with rebounding and on defense. Drake will exploit those issues, so it is the clear team to bet on in this matchup.
However, the line is nearly perfect with a little bit of value on the Bulldogs. Take them at -4.5 and play it to -6.
