The Drake Bulldogs will try to pay off for their supporters on Saturday when they play host to the Eastern Illinois Panthers at Knapp Center in NCAA basketball action.

The Bulldogs currently sports a 5-5 record overall in NCAAB action, and have posted a corresponding betting slate of 4-4 ATS. The Panthers are 3-9 and 2-5 ATS. Betting totals have seen the Bulldogs produce a 4-2-1 OVER/UNDER record on the season, while the Panthers have gone 1-1-1 against the number.



View Eastern Illinois vs Drake Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
The Bulldogs were listed as 17-point favorites at most sportsbooks tracked by Odds Shark earlier in the day. It opened first at Sportsbook, where the total was expected shortly.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Bulldogs - Panthers odds would favor the Bulldogs if the lines were set according to our power ranks. Drake is rated No. 143 in the current Odds Shark poll, while Eastern Illinois is at No. 288. Mathematical models based on recent stats and predictive formulas point to a 70-61 win for the Bulldogs.



How They Match Up:
Rating these schools in several key categories is important for handicappers and Drake has the nation's No. 51-rated offensive output, at 76.4 PPG. The visiting Panthers defense ranks No. 100 allowing on average 62.3 PPG. The Bulldogs FG% has averaged 45.8% so far, more than the Panthers marksmen have achieved on the year, 41.1% per game.

Defensively, Eastern Illinois features the nation's No. 87-rated defense on the road, allowing 64.8 points per game. Drake, meanwhile, comes in at No. 91 nationally in scoring at home.

Eastern Illinois was a 72-45 loser in its last match on the road against Saint Louis. They failed to cover the 20-point spread as underdogs. The Panthers were hammered by Saint Louis on Wednesday, losing by a 72-45 final at Chaifetz Arena in college basketball betting action.

Drake won its last outing, a 72-69 result against North Carolina Central on December 19. The Bulldogs grabbed a 72-69 win over the Eagles on Wednesday, behind a 19-point effort from Seth VanDeest at Knapp Center.


Eastern Illinois Panthers Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 3-7
Before playing Tennessee State are 1-9
After playing Saint Louis are 1-2
After a loss are 2-8

Drake Bulldogs Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 4-6
Before playing Bradley are 3-7
After playing North Carolina Central are 2-0
After a win are 1-9

A few Panthers at Bulldogs trends to consider:
Eastern Illinois is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games on the road
Drake is 19-6 SU in its last 25 games at home


Next up:
Eastern Illinois at Tennessee State, Saturday, December 29
Drake at Bradley, Saturday, December 29