Evansville vs Drake 1/8/22 College Basketball Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Drake Bulldogs and Evansville Purple Aces meet Saturday in college basketball action at the Ford Center. The Drake Bulldogs look for a win after winning seven of their last nine games. The Evansville Purple Aces need a win after losing seven of their last nine games.

The Drake Bulldogs are averaging 75.5 points on 45.6 percent shooting and allowing 64.3 points on 42.3 percent shooting. Tucker Devries is averaging 12.9 points and 4.6 rebounds, while Tremell Murphy is averaging 10.4 points and 0.8 assists. Roman Penn is the third double-digit scorer and ShanQuan Hemphill is grabbing 4.9 rebounds. The Drake Bulldogs are shooting 37.3 percent from beyond the arc and 73.5 percent from the free throw line. The Drake Bulldogs are allowing 32.4 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 33.97 rebounds per game.

The Evansville Purple Aces are averaging 61.7 points on 40.8 percent shooting and allowing 67.1 points on 47 percent shooting. Shamar Givance is averaging 14.4 points and 4.4 rebounds, while Jawaun Newton is averaging 13.8 points and 5.8 rebounds. Noah Frederking is dishing 1 assist and Antonie Smith Jr. is grabbing 1.8 rebounds. The Evansville Purple Aces are shooting 31.9 percent from beyond the arc and 69.3 percent from the free throw line. The Evansville Purple Aces are allowing 38.4 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 27.4 rebounds per game.

The Drake Bulldogs are playing the better basketball entering this contest, and they probably should be favored. However, the Evansville Purple Aces are due for a breakout performance, and you’d have to think being at home counts for something. This will be the first home game for Evansville since December 4. It’s a do-or-die contest for the struggling Purple Aces. I’ll give them a shot.

Give me the Evansville Purple Aces and whatever the line is.