Game Information
Missouri Tigers (3-0) vs Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-0)
Time: 7pm CT Wednesday
How to watch: SEC Network+
DraftKings Odds
Spread: Mizzou -6.5
Total: 156.5
KenPom Projection
Mizzou 82, Minnesota 75
Mizzou Faces Big Ten Foe
It’s a SEC vs. Big Ten clash tonight in Columbia when the Missouri Tigers take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Mizzou Arena.
It’s the first significant test of the season for both schools, as the teams are a combined 5-0 so far against mid-to-low major competition.
Tigers Look To Stay Undefeated
Mizzou has notched blowout victories over Howard and VMI while surviving a close game against SEMO. Three-point shooting has been a big key to the Tigers’ offense so far, as they are shooting 41.8% from behind the arc (39th in the country).
Mizzou played at Minnesota a couple seasons ago and rallied from 20 points down to steal a 70-68 road victory.
Gophers Untested So Far
Minnesota has rolled to season-opening victories over Gardner Webb and Alcorn State. The Gophers have been led by Cade Tyson, who is averaging 25.5 points per game while shooting 45.5% from three-point range.
Overall as a team however, Minnesota has not shot the ball well from behind the arc (32.4% ranks 177th in the country).
My Lean
This is going to be a good test to start seeing what we have in this Missouri ballclub this season.
The Tigers are a top 25 team in two-point field goal percentage so far this season (64.0%), but they’re facing a Minnesota team that ranks 5th in the country in two-point field goal percentage defense.
However if Mizzou is struggling to score inside, as outlined above, I think the Tigers have an advantage in this game in shooting the ball from deep.
Minnesota has players that can do some damage in the paint, but if the Gophers' first two games are any indication, the Tigers should be disruptive with their interior defense. Despite playing weak competition, the Gophers have had 19.2% of their two-point field goal attempts blocked, which ranks 348th out of 365 Division One schools.
And one other intangible in the Tigers’ favor - it’s $1.99 beer night at Mizzou Arena. That should result in a rowdy student section, and with this being Minnesota’s first road test of the season, I think the home court advantage and a small talent edge will lead to Missouri pulling away late and covering this number.
Lean: Mizzou -6.5 at -115 on DraftKings
Eric Sontag hosts Domesticated Gamblers every Wednesday night on the STL Sports Central YouTube channel. Follow him on X @GamblingDads, and click here for his daily picks on all of our St. Louis area sports teams. Get Eric's picks for all sports by following him in the Action Network app with the username "esontag". Disclaimer