The Pick: My 100 Dime winner is the Bradley Braves.
The Line: The current line is -2 1/2 at the majority of books in Vegas and offshore as of 10:00 AM EST. Be sure to shop around for the best line available.
My Analysis
They will handle their business at home tonight.
The best team in the Missouri Valley, the Bradley Braves, will show the world why when they take down Drake.
First and foremost, the Bradley Braves are the #1 3-point shooting team in the country. That is not. misprint.
They have made 163 from behine the arc, 2 more than Villanova and 33 more than Houston at #3.
I get the fact Drake brings the better defense into this match up and I might be inclined to back them if they were playing at home, but they are not.
They are on the road playing a team that hasn't lost a home game all year long.
The Braves are a perfect 8-0 in front of the home folks, winning by an average margin of 13 points.
They are led by preseason player of the year candidate, 5'8 senior guard Duke Dean, who is averaging 15 a game.
The return of 6'6 guard Zeke Montgomery, who hit the portal last year and went to Rhode Island, has been huge, as he is averaging 14 a game.
If that isn't enough, 6'9 big man Darius Hannah, who comes in averaging 13 points and 7 boards and many feel, is the best defender in the country.
That trio is the reason Bradley is off to a 13-2 start. Only losses: at Washington State the 2nd game of the year and back on December 14th in Vegas.
They haven't lost since winning 5 in a row.
As for Drake, they ended the year a perfect 12-0, living off the hype of their 3-game tourney run over Thanksgiving in the Charleston Classic.
Huge wins over (4-10) Miami, (8-7) Florida Atlantic don't look so good now but the 81-70 win over Vandy in the Championship game does hold a little weight.
However, they are winless in 2025.
They rolled in to Illinois/Chicago new years day as laying 6 1/2 lost outright 74-70 and 4 days later at home laying 10, lost to 8-7 Murray State 66-59.
The Bulldogs struggle offensively at times because they are so dependant on 6'4 guard Bennett Stirtz, who is averaging 18 points a game.
He went for 30 against Illinois/Chicago and lost, and struggled to score 13 in the loss at home to Murray State.
All things considered, Bradley is the better team right now and I believe will be a match up nightmare for Drake tonight.
Incredible value with the home team and I will gladly grab it all night long.
over taking notre dame 
Thursday night. 
