The Miami Hurricanes and Drake Bulldogs meet for the first time ever in the First Round of the 2023 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Here, we look at odds and props for this March Madness contest in Albany, and offer a Drake vs. Miami prediction.
Miami is coming off a season as ACC regular season co-champions. Jim Larrañaga’s team is looking to better the program’s first Elite Eight appearance last year, when they were eliminated by eventual champion Kansas Jayhawks.
Drake qualified for this year’s tournament by winning the Missouri Valley Conference tournament. The Bulldogs return after missing last year’s edition and hope to better on their First Round exit in 2021.
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Drake vs. Miami Betting Odds: Spread, Moneyline, Total
Drake has been around a 2-point underdog during early wagering, but is a lower-seeded team to watch this tournament. Bettors may also consider the +110 moneyline in what is expected to be a duel of potent attacking teams, with the Over/Under hovering around 146.
Here are the latest odds from some of the top sportsbooks for this Drake vs. Miami encounter.
Miami vs. Drake Odds
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The Road to March Madness for Miami & Drake
Following a good body of work in the regular season, the Hurricanes were eliminated from the ACC tournament by Duke in the semifinals. Miami lost power forward Norchad Omier to injury, and his potential absence in the First Round is what has bettors picking the underdog.
The Canes still count on the services of Isaiah Wong (16.2 PPG, 3.4 AGP), the team’s leader in points and assist and that’ll give them a chance to win. Omier (9.7 RPG) does lead the team in rebounds and will be a tough man to replace.
Drake has a bit more balance in their game with Tucker DeVries (19.o PPG), Darnell Brodie (7.3 RPG), and Roman Penn (5.4 APG) sharing the load in different categories. The Bulldogs last played on March 5, the Missouri Valley Conference final, meaning they’ll be playing their first game in 12 days.
More matchups: Providence vs. Kentucky | USC vs. Michigan State prediction | Iona vs. UConn prediction | NC State vs. Creighton prediction
Drake vs. Miami Betting Trends
Miami
- Miami is 12-11-0 ATS when listed as a favorite
- Miami is 5-5-0 ATS in its last 10 games and 18-14-0 overall this season
- Miami is 8-2-0 money line in its last 10 games
- Miami has an O/U record of 14-17-1 this season
Drake
- Drake is 2-3-0 ATS as the underdog
- Drake is 8-2-0 ATS in its last 10 games and 16-16-1 overall this season
- Drake is 9-1-0 money line in its last 10 games
- Drake has an O/U record of 15-18-0 this season
Drake vs. Miami Prediction: Drake +2.0
The Bulldogs have a more experienced lineup, which could be a key to a slight upset. Even if Norchad Omier plays, the big question is if he can play near his best form.
The underdogs also have the slight edge in single-elimination games by winning their conference tournament. Miami did not fare well as the top seed in the ACC Tournament and will need to prove they can win with these types of stakes.
The Hurricanes will have more pressure to win as the favorite across many categories, and that pressure could play against them. Take the points and, if you feel confident enough, this is one to consider punching the moneyline.
Pick: Drake +2.o (-110) via Caesars
Drake vs. Miami Props Predictions
Isaiah Wong, Over 14.5 points (-130, BetMGM and DraftKings)
Wong will have to be one of the main protagonists for the Miami Hurricanes in this encounter. He’ll likely lead the way in points if the Canes are on the right side of victory.
For that reason, this seems like a solid choice with BetMGM and DraftKings offering the best odds. If you want a higher number at longer odds, FanDuel has an O/U 16.5 on Wong (Over -106, Under -120).
Darnell Brodie, Over 9.5 points (+100, BetMGM and DraftKings)
If you’re looking for something with a plus number, Brodie for 10 points is among the better options. If he’s expected to get around 7.5 rebounds, and ideally convert them into points, then all he needs is five conversions inside the paint.
If you feel more comfortable betting the O/U 7.5 rebounds, BetMGM and DraftKings also have the best odds at +110. Brodie should be influential if Drake has a good game.
Roman Penn, Over 5.5 assists (-110, FanDuel)
Considering the odds are good for a good Drake performance, Penn could surpass his average for assists. The Bulldogs attack has been clicking and they could very well get rolling in this game.
Penn definitely has the ability to supply his teammates. With the long rest, and motivation to advance, this could be a big game for Penn and FanDuel is offering the best value on this proposition.
Also read: How pro gamblers are moving March Madness lines | How to hedge NCAA Tournament futures bet
How to Watch Drake vs. Miami
Date: Friday, March 17, 2023
Tipoff: 7:25 p.m. ET (after UConn vs. Iona)
Location: MVP Arena— Albany, NY
Where to Watch: TBS
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